Bill offers self-employed state-paid parental leave

State-funded paid parental leave is to be extended to the self-employed.

A bill introducing the change from July 1 next year got its first reading in Parliament last night and was sent to the transport and industrial relations select committee.

The Government extended the present paid parental leave scheme from 13 to 14 weeks from December 1.

More than $215 million has been paid out to more than 52,000 people since the scheme's introduction in 2002. In 2004-05 nearly 19,000 people took up the leave.

Eligible employees get a maximum of $357.30 a week for 14 weeks. Payment and leave can be shared between eligible partners.

Leader of the House Michael Cullen said last night that it had been the intention since the scheme was first introduced to extend it to the self-employed.

According to the 2001 Census there were more than 200,000 self-employed people. The Government estimates that just over 2000 self-employed people will apply for paid parental leave each year.

To be eligible, a self-employed person has to take a break from their work. However, the bill allows self-employed people to maintain oversight of their business.

The Labour Department is evaluating the scheme, including looking at the experiences of women, partners, employers and those who are ineligible.

National supported the Government in sending the bill to the select committee.