Parental leave for gay couples

THE maximum age of a child for whom a parent can take parental leave has been raised from five years to eight years, and to 16 years where the child has a disability with effect from today.

Same-sex couples and working parents also received a boost in the changes in the law on special leave for family commitments.

The new arrangements introduced in the Parental Leave (Amendment) Act 2006 extends emergency leave for workers with a family crisis to cover emergencies affecting partners and co-habitees.