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The Albanian government is being asked to grant all workers 12 days of reproductive leave to cover IVF treatments, severe menstrual pain, menopause, vasectomies and gender transition therapies.
The powerful Health Services Union (HSU) will on Monday begin a national campaign to have the right to leave enshrined in the National Employment Standards (NES).
Union representatives are seeking meetings with senior Cabinet ministers including Health Minister Mark Butler, Industrial Relations Minister Murray Watt and Women’s Minister Katy Gallagher.
This latest push goes beyond the 10 days of reproductive leave that the union movement, including its main body, the ACTU, is currently calling for.
The wide-ranging leave would also allow employees to take time off for birth control appointments, seeking fertility treatments, hysterectomies, hormone therapy, health issues, miscarriages, breast and prostate cancer screenings, abortions, as well as health issues related to endometriosis, pregnancy and polycystic ovary syndrome.
The HSU has already signed an agreement with Scope, one of Australia’s largest providers of disability services, giving hundreds of its Victorian workers access to this right.
However, the union’s national assistant secretary Kate Marshall, who underwent fertility treatment to conceive her twin daughters after two miscarriages, said all workers deserved to be given “critical” leave.
“It shouldn’t be a matter of being lucky enough to have an understanding boss,” he said.
Albanese government is being asked to give all workers 12 days of reproductive leave to cover IVF treatments, severe menstrual pain, menopause, vasectomies and gender transition therapies (file image)
“Making 12 days of reproductive leave part of the minimum rights for all workers will have incredible benefits throughout the economy.
“Women will be able to stay in the workforce longer, build more retirement funds and help us close the gender pay gap.”
In Queensland, public sector workers were given 10 days of reproductive leave from July this year, which covers fertility and IVF treatments, chronic reproductive health conditions, hysterectomies, vasectomies and breast and prostate cancer screenings.
Globally, Japan and South Korea have up to sixteen days a year for fertility treatments.
When contacted, Minister Butler and Minister Watt’s offices would not confirm the government’s support for the HSU’s proposed reproductive leave scheme.
A government spokesman said there were already statutory leave requirements that allow workers to take time off for reproductive health reasons, such as personal leave or caring leave. Compassionate leave can also be used in circumstances involving a miscarriage.
The spokesperson also pointed to corporate agreements that are now beginning to include rights such as reproductive health leave or menopause leave.
“The Albanian government recognises that reproductive health problems can affect women’s health, well-being and economic security,” they said.
When contacted, Minister Butler and Minister Watt’s office would not confirm the government’s support for the HSU’s proposed reproductive leave scheme (file image)
‘The NES in the Fair Work Act set out legislated minimum workplace rights and are a safety net for Australian workers.
‘Employers and employees can also negotiate rights that improve minimum standards.’
Earlier this year, union groups also reported to a Senate committee on menopause and perimenopause on reproductive leave that they also heard from worker bodies calling for specific leave entitlements for reproductive health issues, and the committee is expected to release its findings later this month on September 17.