A legislative proposal submitted by DISY MP Savia Orphanidou seeks to abolish the age limit on parental leave for parents of people with disabilities, allowing them to take leave regardless of their child’s age.
The proposal was submitted to the House of Representatives plenary session yesterday and referred to the Parliamentary Committee on Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance for examination.
What the current legislation provides
Under the existing legislation governing paternity, parental and carers’ leave, force majeure leave and flexible working arrangements, parental leave can be taken from the end of maternity or paternity leave until the child reaches the age of 15.
For parents of children with disabilities, the entitlement is extended until the child reaches the age of 21, subject to the provisions of the Persons with Disabilities Law.
The proposed amendment would completely remove the age restriction, allowing parents of people with disabilities to take parental leave without an upper age limit.
Preventing parents from leaving employment
According to the explanatory report accompanying the proposal, extending parental leave eligibility is necessary to ensure adequate care for people with disabilities.
Orphanidou argues that the existing restrictions can force parents to permanently leave their jobs because of increased caregiving responsibilities.
Alternatively, some parents are compelled to take unpaid leave, placing additional financial pressure on their families.
The proposed legislation aims to address these challenges by enabling parents to balance employment with their ongoing caregiving responsibilities.
Next steps in Parliament
The proposal will now be examined by the Parliamentary Committee on Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance.
Following the committee’s discussions, a final version of the legislation is expected to be prepared and submitted to the House plenary for a vote.
If approved, the amendment would remove the current age limit of 21 for parental leave eligibility among parents of people with disabilities.
Source: Phileleftheros
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