Proposed law would improve job leave rights

Province introduces new law that aims to improve job security for employees

The province introduced a law on Wednesday increasing leave for major life events.

In total, the new law brings 78 weeks of leave to be shared between new parents. It increases maternity and adoption leave from 18 to 19 weeks. On top of the 19week maternity leave, the province is extending parental leave from 34 to 59 weeks for the mother of a child, if she chooses to take the full leave.

If another parent decides to take the entire leave or is collecting Employment Insurance benefits, they will see parental leave expand from 37 weeks to 63 weeks.

Another addition is a critically ill adult leave, offering 17 weeks for workers to take care of critically ill adult family members.

“During a major life event, such as bringing a child into the family or assisting a loved one experiencing a serious illness, workers should not have to worry about job security,” Labour Relations and Workplace Safety Minister Don Morgan said in a statement.

He told reporters Wednesday, after the law had been introduced, “We want to support families, we want to support parenting and we want to make the accommodations in the legislation that we think will do that.”

Those changes bring Saskatchewan in line with previously passed federal legislation.

NDP MLA Nicole Sarauer said she was “happy to see the action” on the file.

“If there is any concern, it’s that this didn’t come soon enough. We’ve been calling for the province to match what the feds are doing since last session, so that was several months of inaction where people in this province were unable to access the federal announcements.”

The new law will also increase the leave allowed for victims of sexual abuse to 10 days. which allows sexual violence victims time off while they seek support, including medical or legal help, and time to relocate.

Last December, the government had previously moved to grant 10 days of unpaid leave from work

It’s crucial to be able to maintain employment.

to survivors of intimate partner violence.

Saskatchewan continues to grapple with high rates of domestic violence.

Morgan said he “Can’t imagine anything more horrific than someone going through that.”

Sarauer continued her yearslong call for the government to ensure the leave is paid for.

“It’s crucial to be able to maintain employment, to maintain housing, to take time and still be paid,” she said, pointing out other provinces have paid leave and, given Saskatchewan has high rates of domestic violence, there is no reason why it can’t take place here.

Morgan said doing so is under consideration by the province.