Health Union Pushes For 12 Days Of Reproductive Leave To Become Minimum Standard

The Health Services Union (HSU) is pushing for 12 days of reproduction leave to become a minimum employment standard.

It comes after the not-for-profit disability service provider Scope committed to providing 12 days of leave to cover IVF, severe menstrual pain, endometriosis, vasectomies, menopause, gender transitioning therapies and other health issues.

The HSU is meeting with federal politicians this week as part of its national campaign to make reproductive leave a national standard.

The Briefing spoke with LiSTNR journalist Loren Howarth to discuss whether Australia is ready for reproductive leave and what a potential policy introduced into the Fair Work Act would look like:

National senior assistant secretary of the HSU, Kate Marshall, said the agreement with Scope should be replicated nationally.

“This landmark agreement is life-changing for thousands of disability care workers and their families,” she said.

“We’re seeing so many people, mainly women, use up all their leave to look after their reproductive health.

“Making 12 days’ reproductive leave part of the minimum entitlements for all workers will have incredible benefits across the entire economy.”

Ms Marshall reflected on her journey in receiving fertility treatment to conceive her twin daughters.

“I did want to work, but I also desperately wanted to have a family – why should a person have to pick one or the other?”

“It shouldn’t be down to being lucky enough to have an understanding boss. All workers deserve this critical leave to deal with a range of reproductive health issues.”

You can find out more about the Reproductive Health Leave campaign here.

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