Green light for ground-breaking paternity leave bill
The National Assembly made history on Tuesday by adopting the Labour Laws Amendment Bill, which will allow fathers to take paternity leave.
This will allow a father to take up to ten days paternity leave, which can in turn be claimed back from the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).
The private member's bill was tabled by the African Christian Democratic Party's (ACDP).
The party's Cheryllyn Dudley says this will allow a father to bond with their infant.
"Before fathers had three days family responsibility. The bill is specific to the birth of a child and gives an opportunity at an early stage for the father to bond with his child."
Dudley says a man can only claim the ten days if he is registered as the father of the child. He may also not claim more than once a year.
"I am very delighted. This is something people on the ground will actually feel. It is also another indication of the maturity of our democracy. It's very exciting. I am the first opposition party member to have a private members bill passed. We made history," says Dudley.
The bill will now proceed to the National Council of Provinces. If the NCOP approves the bill, it will be sent to President Jacob Zuma for him to sign it into law.