why should maternal leave be payed?

Seems interesting idea for private sector who recognize mainly economic motives.But political people interested in survival.

Just a few comments:

I believe having children is a huge responsibility and should be planned as much as possible anyway. This includes the ability to provide for the child financially.

Many parents do take full financial responsibility as far as they are able. There are families where both parents work and still have trouble making ends meet, simply because they work in low-paying jobs. Should these people be denied the chance to have children because they cannot afford to lose one wage while the mother takes time off to have her baby?

Australia is one of very few countries that do not have a paid parental leave scheme. In this regard we are less supportive of mothers than countries such as Algeria, Venezuela, Vietnam and Senegal, all of which provide for at least 14 weeks at 100% of the woman's wage. Most European countries have some form of paid maternity leave.

So, some sort of paid leave would be beneficial, and it doesn't have to be on full pay, many countries have a scaled pay system, such as the UK, where 90% is paid for the first six weeks and then a flat rate after that, up to 15 weeks.

Considering that breast-feeding for children is now recommended until at least six months of age, and there have been concerns about the effects on children of long-day care in the first two years, Australia must consider a paid maternal/parental scheme if we want to be taken seriously regarding our support of families and workers in general.

I agree with you. Having a family is a free life choice. Why should a woman be compensated for something she has a free choice to do or not do? I for one would not employ a female unless she was over childbearing age ie: 40 plus. Maternity leave will create a system where woman will not be considered for employment and companies who spend big money training staff will be forced by law to accept that female back up to 18 months later when she has quite possibly lost her skills and will need catchup or retraining completely to regain her usefulness to the employer. Next: Male maternity leave?

You are right.

This is all, part of the liberal agenda to destroy business.

It's not about supporting families because the same ones demanding this also demand the right to murder their babies in abortion mills.

It's just another excuse to put more and more burdens on business to help collapse them into non existence.

This goes along with all the excessive taxes and excessive regulations such as telling business who they "must" hire and for how much and restricting their rights to fire bad employees.

Also they use the courts to sue business out of existence for stupid things such as someone buying hot coffee then suing the restaurant for making it too hot when they spill it on themselves.

Or suits demanding millions of dollars for Asbestos exposure even though such exposure took place 50 years ago when no one had any idea it was a carcinogen.

But somehow it's the companies fault no matter what.

And if they go out of business and put many other people out of work well that is just fine with the liberals who want no business and want instead this country to be run like Soviet Russia was as a dictatorship.

Would you then suggest that no working woman have children then?

Or should they give up work as soon as they become pregnant and go on the dole?

What about the people who have no partner to suport them?Should they starve?

I will assume you either dont have kids or dont work to be asking such a question

well different sides to this question

advantages to the payer/employer/and employee

know that a female of youth will take the job with this offered

that they will return to work after being trained

disadvatages

cost expense, leave of absense and paid too

all this is taken into condsideration today...as the feminist movement lead by lesbian in the near at time.. go figure????

happy mothers/mothered day,a rose to the prince and princess!

A prayer that helps both sides "Help me Jesus, I am sorry for my sins, even 1 lie, please come into my heart and be my best friend, amen."

comes from Jesus words spoken from heaven, "I love you, and ask you to repent quickly of your sins, and I am at your heart's door, if you ask me in, I will come in and be your friend and fellowship with you." Revelation 1:1 & 3:19&20

desire us to be one and hold together/fellowship as the God does too;

John 17:11, "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are."

peace and happy employment to you, David in the job of God too hehe