Fed: ACTU calls on gov to act on paid maternity leave

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Fed: ACTU calls on gov to act on paid maternity leave

Unions say less than a third of Australia's working women have access to paid maternityleave -- and those who do are offered much less than is internationally acceptable.

ACTU president SHARAN BURROW has welcomed Sex Discrimination Commissioner PRU GOWARD'srecommendation that employers and the government share funding of a scheme.

Unions are pushing for a minimum standard of 14 weeks' paid maternity leave in linewith International Labor Organisation recommendations.

Ms BURROW says it's unfair that less than one third of Australia's working women haveaccess to paid maternity leave, and most receive less than 12 weeks.

She says Ms GOWARD's report sets out funding guidelines and opens the way for the federalgovernment to develop a system to make paid maternity leave available for all workingwomen.

AAP RTV jmw/clr/jas/rp

KEYWORD: MATERNITY ACTU (MELBOURNE)