nurseles

hi everyone
does anyone know what maternity pay/rights you are entitled to in oz if you are on an independent skilled visa?
thanks

Australian_2005

Hi

You get leave but no pay, can claim a baby bonus thing (not sure as haven't had any kids here yet , bout $4000 I think. Will be plenty who can tell you more than me

jjonboy

no legal rights to pay but legal rights to time off with your job held open for up to a year generally. any payment other than the 4K govt grant is discretionary from your employer.... the norm is not to get paid... some do though like my wife gets 6 months at half pay....

suzimc

Is that the standard or a condition of having arrived on the visa within a certain time??

KatieStar

You are entitled to that straight away. You can also claim other benefits once the baby is born, ie tax allowance and child benefit, also rent assistance if you are renting.

Katie

suzimc

Are there any paternity rights?

Betty Boot

Same as everyone else I would guess? 12 months unpaid for most places if you have worked for the company for more than 12 months, although i believe some banks, government depts, etc are giving some paid leave.

ABCDiamond

Maternity Pay is not Generally given in Australia, although some companies and organisation do give it.

Two Pieces of information from this report: http://www.aph.gov.au/library/intgui...nity_leave.htm

Report 1:

• 39 per cent of female employees in Australia can take an average of seven weeks’ paid maternity leave, up from 28 per cent in 1997.
• Although 77 per cent of women in the finance and insurance industries have access to paid maternity leave, only one per cent are covered in the retail sector, and 2 percent in hotels and restaurants.
• Among developed countries, only the US and Australia have not legislated for minimum paid maternity leave across the workforce.

Report 2:

• 38 per cent of female employees responded that they were entitled to paid maternity leave (51 per cent of full time employees and 21 per cent of part time employees)
• women in casual employment had almost negligible access to paid maternity leave (0.4 per cent of self-identified casuals responded that they were entitled to paid maternity leave, compared to 53.6 per cent of other female employees)
• the highest coverage of paid maternity leave (percent of female employees) occurred in the following industries: Government Administration and Defence (68.1 per cent), Communication Services (59.1 per cent), Finance and Insurance (59 per cent) and Education (57 per cent )
• the lowest coverage of paid maternity leave was found in the following industries: Agriculture (4.5 per cent), Accommodation, Cafes and Restaurants (13.4 per cent), Retail (20.2 per cent of female employees) and Cultural and Recreational Services (28.2 per cent)
• the highest incidence of paid maternity leave was recorded in the following occupations: Managers and Administrators (65 per cent) and Professionals (54 per cent)
• the lowest incidence of paid maternity leave was recorded in the following occupations: Elementary Clerical, Sales and Service Workers (18 per cent) and labourers and related workers (21 per cent) and access to paid maternity leave was higher the greater an employee’s length of service with an employer.

http://www.abcdiamond.com.au/info_maternity.htm

suzimc

Thanks, that is really useful, I have had a look around, but hadn't managed to come up with anything so far so this is great