The Government's decision to finally back new laws to extend unpaid parental leave from 18 to 26 weeks should be the first step towards a national conversation on a four-day week for people with young families.
Social Democrats TD Roisin Shortall called for the discussion after cabinet signed off on her party's proposals two and a half years after they were first made.
In a major development today, the Government agreed to:
- change existing laws to extend unpaid parental leave from 18 to 26 weeks
- introduce the changes in two parts, with four weeks added on September 1 and four more on September 1, 2020
- and increase the qualifying child age cap for parental leave rise from eight years to 12
Ms Shortall said she welcomed the positive step after two and a half years of discussion on the issue.
However, she said the parental leave changes must now be used to begin a real national debate on four-day week options for those with young families.
Noting the approach in a number of other EU countries, Ms Shortall said companies should allow parents to spread the new parental leave time off over a number of years to improve family quality of life.
Asked if she believes the Government decision to finally back the changes is part of a bid to "soften up" the Social Democrats for a future coalition offer, Ms Shortall said:
I don't know. The Taoiseach has been very supportive recently, but unfortunately in the early days of this that wasn't happening.
