MK Gideon Sa'ar - 'Studies show importance of bonding at this stage'
Photo: Gil Yochanan
14 weeks paid leave for new mothers
Photo:Visual Photo
Knesset extends maternity leave by 2 weeks
Overwhelming Knesset majority changes 53-year-old duration of maternity leave, estimates cost of new law per year – up to 440 million
The Knesset on Monday voted to extend the period of maternity leave granted to women by two weeks, bringing the total to 14 weeks of paid leave. The bill passed with the support of 95 MKs – without a single vote against or abstention – and will take effect within days.
Fathers Too
Tamar Trabelsi-Hadad
Two new bills defend fathers' right to take leave after baby's birth; bill to provide quality bonding time between father, child, says MK Melchior
The bill was championed by MK Gideon Sa'ar, chairman of the Committee on the Status of Women and was drafted in cooperation with MKs Nadia Hilou and Shelly Yacimovich of Labor and MK Dov Khenin of Hadash.
"The new law is a result of a determined struggle," said Sa'ar, "it was passed after the period of paid maternity leave in Israel remained unchanged for 53 years. This, after numerous studies have proven the importance of nurturing the bond between mother and child during the first weeks the baby's life.
"The bill passed despite the objections raised by the Finance Ministry throughout the entire process. The ministry estimated that the change would cost the State up to 400 million per year."
According to Sa'ar the new law also improves the compensation for a multiple birth: "For each additional child the mother will receive three more weeks of paid leave so that in the case of twins for example, the maternity leave will be extended to 17 weeks."
The vote came on the tail of a related draft bill passed Sunday by the cabinet which will allow fathers to share part of their partners' maternity leave. The bill will soon be discussed at the ministerial committee for legislation before it is brought before the parliament.
Women's groups welcome the initiative but lamented the fact that only middle-class couples are expected to make use of the legislation as "it is not economically worthwhile" for the man to stay home due to salary differences.
