New Zealand Approves Paid Leave Post Miscarriage

New Zealand Parliament has approved a legislation wherein mothers and their partners have the right to three days’ worth of paid leave in the event of a miscarriage or stillbirth, without dipping into their sick leaves.

“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,” Labour Party MP Ginny Andersen, who initiated the bill, said as per reports.

“The bill will give women and their partners time to come to terms with their loss without having to tap into sick leave. Because their grief is not a sickness, it is a loss. And loss takes time,” she added.

Anderson also stated that the provisions of leave apply to mothers and their partners, as well as parents planning to have a child through adoption or surrogacy.

Last year, New Zealand had decriminalised abortion while allowing the procedure up to 20 weeks into a pregnancy. The country changed a law that was in place since 1977.

The only other country barring New Zealand which has a similar legislation is India, which allows women to take six weeks of leave after a miscarriage.

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