Yahoo Finance Queensland workers given 10 days more leave in Australian-first: 'Major expansion'
Tens of thousands of Queensland government workers will be able to look after their reproductive health with the new initiative.
More workers in Queensland have been given an extra 10 days of leave for their reproductive health. The state government first announced the move in May this year but has now extended it to include 24,000 additional staff.
The Sunshine State said this is part of a "major expansion" of the Australian-first initiative to ensure workers have enough time off to look after their fertility. Premier Steven Miles said he was proud to usher in another history-making move.
“We make history again with the announcement that some of the best workplace entitlements in the nation will be extended to even more Queensland workers," he said.
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“I always want Queensland’s incredible public sector to shine as an employer of choice and I hope to see other organisations follow our lead when it comes to backing the health and equity of workers.
“This is both about improving pay equity for women in the workforce and supporting the health and wellbeing of the workers who make this state a better place.”
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How can I use these extra days off?
The additional 10 days will be added to government workers' entitlements like annual leave, sick leave and other types of time off, but it will be non-cumulative, meaning any unused days cannot be rolled over into the next year.
It will apply to workers attached to government-owned corporations, Queensland Rail and Seqwater.
Here a non-exhaustive list of what you can use the days for:
Preventative health measures
Screenings
IVF
Hysterectomy
Vasectomy
Chromic conditions like endometriosis, dysmenorrhea or severe menopause
Back in May, the state government announced the 10 days of reproductive health leave initiative and said it would affect around 265,000 workers and would cost roughly $80 million a year.
The change will kick in on September 30.
How does Queensland compare to other states?
Premier Miles said Queensland now leads the country when it comes to reproductive health leave. Here is how the other state government workers compare:
Victoria: 5 days
NSW: 5 days
ACT: 5 days
South Australia: 0 days
Northern Territory: 0 days
Tasmania: 0 days
Western Australia: 0 days
According to Australian Unions, reproductive leave isn't automatically given to Australian workers because it isn't enshrined in the National Employment Standards and is currently only available at "a handful of workplaces".
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) has been campaigning for the leave to be rolled out in every state and territory.
“Too many workers have been penalised or forced to bow out of employment because of reproductive health issues," ACTU president Michele O'Neil said in a statement.
“Unions will campaign for a universal paid 10 days leave to enable all workers access to this important category of leave.
“Working people have already campaigned, and won, this entitlement at some workplaces but we want to see this extended as a basic entitlement to all Australian workers."
But the Albanese government has hinted it won't follow the ACTU's call, as a spokesperson for Workplace Relations Minister Tony Burke told The Australian "ACTU policy and ALP policy have always been different".
“The major changes we intend to make are already law and making a difference with more secure jobs and better pay,” he said.
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