1. Submission to The Portfolio Committee of Labour on The Labour Laws Amendment Bill

2. Overview
Introduction
The Evidence
Recommendation
Conclusion

3. Introduction
Our interest lies in gender equal parenting through the involvement of men as equal caregivers in the interest of creating equitable, healthy relationships for the benefit of the entire family.

4. Position on the Bill
Sonke and Mosaic mostly support the general purpose and objectives of the Bill but interpret that the Bill does not make provision for adequate period of time for parental leave.
Neither the Bill nor the Act directly recognises same-sex parents in terms of leave but is however applicable to these parents in its provisions.
We make recommendations to vest all parents with equal parental leave benefits.

6. The Evidence
Maternity leave on it’s own assumes that South African households consist of a male breadwinner and a female homemaker.
Women do 8 times more unpaid household work than men do. (Stats SA 2012)
Equal parental leave facilitates women’s active and equal participation in the labour market; supports men’s right to parenthood; promotes shared responsibility for unpaid work and care within the household.
Men’s involvement in unpaid care contributes to gender equality.

7. A same-sex marriage policy framework should be matched with
a same-sex parenting policy framework

8. Better leave for mothers, fathers, same-sex, and adoptive parents.
Up to 3 years
(1000 days)
6 months
6 months
4 months
Perinatal / Infant focused
10 days
10 days
3 days
Mothers
Fathers
Same sex parents / adoption / surrogacy
Current
Proposed

9. RECOMMENDED LEAVE STRUCTURE

10. “Business in SA can’t afford this”
Yes, but…
“Business in SA can’t afford this”
Leave provides short term employment
Increases women’s employment rates
Reduces discrimination against mothers
Reduces employee stress
Businesses become an employer of choice

11. “Fathers are not involved enough to use the leave”
Yes, but…
“Fathers are not involved enough to use the leave”
Parental leave increases involvement in the medium to long term
Eligibility for leave would match parental responsibilities listed in Children’s Act
The size of the problem should not prevent solutions to be implemented

13. In conclusion
Women’s access to the economy as a result of reduced gender inequality in the work place, and in the appointment process on the basis of reproduction.
Gender transformative nature of proposal: increased parental leave for both parents – greater parental involvement; equitable division of care work.
Increased engagement of father as parent associated with decreased levels of violence within the home.
The proposed model will contribute to the development of the child in the first 1000 days.