Miscarriage or stillbirth is a living nightmare for any parent. Doesn’t matter whether you are a mother or father, losing a child is the most difficult thing that you will ever face in your life. But sadly, our society hardly acknowledges this hidden pain of parents, who lost their children. It hardly gives them any space or time to heal.
Even before they overcome their unbearable pain, they are expected to get back to their normal lives, especially for people with jobs.
Unlike many other countries, New Zealand refused to blind itself to the pain of grieving parents, who just lost their child. Recently, in a historic moment, New Zealand has passed legislation where both mothers and their partners have the right to get paid leaves after a miscarriage or a stillbirth.
New Zealand will give mothers and their partners the right to paid bereavement leave after a miscarriage or still birth — only the 2nd country to do so.
— AJ+ (@ajplus) March 25, 2021
The law offers 3 days without affecting sick leave and covers people trying to have children through surrogacy or adoption. pic.twitter.com/va4oRnqbO5
As per the sources, New Zealand is the second country to take such a step. According to the bill, the concerned employees will be allowed to take 3 days’ leaves without having to use their sick leaves.
Ginny Anderson, Labour Party MP who is the key leader for initiating the bill mentioned:
“The passing of this bill shows that once again New Zealand is leading the way for progressive and compassionate legislation, becoming only the second country in the world to provide leave for miscarriage and stillbirth. “
She further added that the leaves are meant to give the grieving parents some time to take in the situation while adding that their grief is not a disease or a sickness. It’s a loss that takes time to heal.
Additionally, even the parents who are planning to have a child through surrogacy and adoption can also avail these leaves. The same reports suggested that India is the only other country with similar provisions.
Many netizens came forward to applaud such a great gesture:
So many women have miscarriages and Nobody at work knows. They go to work the next day, no time off. Schedule a D&C as if it’s a routine doc appointment.
— Asma Khalid (@asmamk) March 25, 2021
This is groundbreaking.https://t.co/bkB6MtatUE
This is fantastic. After a missed miscarriage at 9 weeks I sorely needed time off. I took a week paid sick leave. I’m fortunate that I have good sick pay. This should be a right for all women.
— Dr Emma Lane (@dyskochick) March 25, 2021
This is incredible. It’s so sad as an American to think that this kind of legislation is beyond a pipe dream. It will always be embarrassing how we treat people in the toughest of times. I wish we could all find common ground on the important things like this.
— Andrew Lowy (@alowy319) March 25, 2021
This is what happens when you have a real leader running the country, and more importantly a female leader.
— Nick J (@NickJ_CSM) March 25, 2021
Wow, a country that believes women are people…I can’t imagine what that would be like to live there.
— PixelatedPupils (@PixelatedPupil1) March 25, 2021
I miscarried at my first job at the registers. A few weeks later when i came to give my boss my two weeks, he said he thought I came to apologize and ask for more hours. “If you miscarried while driving, would you just stop driving?” Best Joann’s boss, ever.
— Deanna Yates (@TheBangDesigns) March 25, 2021
India has this legal provision since years . And 6 weeks, not 3 days … pic.twitter.com/LcNKdhsZt3
— Vinamra (@Duneemperorpaul) March 25, 2021
At IFOHER, we applaud this progressive legislature and hope the world will soon follow in the footsteps of India and New Zealand!
