New Zealand’s Parliament has passed legislation granting mothers and their partners the right to go on a paid leave after a miscarriage or stillbirth, becoming only the second country in the world to do so. The leave provisions apply to mothers, their partners as well as parents planning to have a child through adoption or surrogacy, she said.
The bereavement allowance, passed unanimously in parliament late Wednesday, gives employees three days’ leave when a pregnancy ends with a stillbirth without having to tap into sick leave.
“The passing of this bill shows that once again New Zealand is leading the way for progressive and compassionate legislation, becoming only the second country in the world to provide leave for miscarriage and stillbirth,” said Labour Party MP Ginny Andersen, who initiated the bill.
