The following is being distributed at the request of the Labour Relations Agency:
Provincial Government Focuses on Health and Well-being of Families
Amendments to Labour Standards Act Support Families in Crisis
In its continued support of families, the Provincial Government is making it easier for working parents to deal with challenging situations in relation to their children. Proposed amendments to the Labour Standards Act will help ensure that the jobs of parents are protected as they take leave to focus on their families in times of trying circumstances such as dealing with a critically ill child, or with a crime-related child death or disappearance. The amendments received second reading in the House of Assembly today.
“Offering this option to parents is important for the citizens of our
province who find themselves in the most difficult and trying circumstances
imaginable. These types of provisions are vital for working parents in
Newfoundland and Labrador, allowing them to address the needs of their
families, secure in the knowledge that their jobs are protected.”
- The Honourable Darin King, Minister Responsible for the Labour Relations
Agency
The proposed amendments create two new job-protected, unpaid leaves of absence under the Labour Standards Act:
More information, including how to qualify for these types of parental leave, can be found in the backgrounder below.
The Federal Government recently implemented two new monetary benefits to assist working parents. One provides employment insurance benefits to a parent providing care or support to his or her critically ill child, and the other provides a taxable grant to a parent of a child who has disappeared or died as a result of a probable Criminal Code offence.
“Establishing complementary unpaid leaves under the Labour Standards Act
provides job protection to working parents in this province and facilitates
their access to the federal monetary benefits. These new leaves are an
important step forward in promoting healthy and strong families in
Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as supporting victims of crime.”
- Minister King
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to supporting important social programs, strong communities and the health and well-being of children, families and seniors.
QUICK FACTS
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Media contact:
Luke Joyce
Director of Communications
Department of Justice
709-729-6985, 725-4165
lukejoyce@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Critically Ill Child Care Leave and Crime-Related Child Death or
Disappearance Leave
For information on how to qualify for the two new job-protected, unpaid leaves of absence under the Labour Standards Act, please see below.
2013 12 02 3:05 p.m.