Future of Work Work and Family Policy

Increased workforce participation of mothers, the intensification of work and the de-institutionalisation of care for the elderly, chronically ill and dependents with a disability, has increased the need for support for workers with caring responsibilities. [...] d) Increase the amount of paid personal/carer’s leave; e) Include the provision of palliative care leave as a minimum standard; and f) Improve leave associated with the birth and/or adoption of a child, in particular seek that the NES and modern awards: (i) Provide employees with the right to return to work part- time from parental leave; (ii) Improve paid leave provisions in relation to pregnancy. [...] With the support of the ACTU, unions will bargain to maintain and enhance existing paid parental leave entitlements in conjunction with the new federal paid parental leave scheme. [...] Unions commit to bargain for the following improvements to the Government’s scheme: a) Payment of employer superannuation contributions to be made on paid parental leave; b) The provision of at least two weeks paid partner leave; c) Employer top up on the government scheme to full income replacement level; d) Increases in employer provided paid parental leave to at least reach the World Health Org. [...] The ACTU determines to work with the Australian community to: a) Continue to pursue improvements to the Government paid parental leave scheme as advocated in this policy; b) Continue to assist affiliates to bargain for improved paid parental leave provisions in workplaces; and Work and Family Policy 3 ACTU Congress 2009 c) Work with affiliates to develop and prosecute a second work and family safe.