1000 days to get it right for every child: Every Child Counts supports Bill to extend paid parental leave

Every Child Counts supports the Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Six Months' Paid Leave) Amendment Bill drawn from the ballot in Parliament last week.

“There are economic and social benefits from ensuring children get the best start in the first 1000 days of life (the early years) through secure attachment to caregivers and, where possible, breastfeeding,” says Liz Gibbs, Chair of Every Child Counts.

“Every Child Counts supports this initiative to extend paid parental leave to six months because it makes provision for gradual increases in leave so that six months paid parental leave is available from 2014. Six months paid parental leave provides important financial support to parents in the most important months of a baby’s life.

“The Ministry of Health recommends exclusive breastfeeding until six months of age, a goal that it is difficult to achieve if mothers are back in work. Early bonding and breastfeeding are important protective factors against child maltreatment and support optimal physical, mental and emotional development in babies.

“New Zealand’s paid parental leave provisions have been low compared with other developed countries so it is positive to see parliamentarians taking steps to address this.

“We hope all political parties and the wider community will support the measures contained in the Parental Leave and Employment Protection (Six Months' Paid Leave) Amendment Bill,” concludes Liz Gibbs.

Every Child Counts is a coalition of organisations and individuals working to improve the status and wellbeing of NZ children, driven by Barnardos, Plunket, UNICEF, Save the Children, and Ririki.

www.everychildcounts.org.nz

ENDS

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