Fathers of both biological and adopted children should be granted 10 business days leave, Parliament’s labour portfolio committee heard on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Henri Terblanche, a Cape Town father, argued for an amendment to the amount of paternity leave stipulated in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.<\/p>\n
It should be increased from three to 10 business days, he said.<\/p>\n
Terblanche, one of the main leaders of the cause, previously made a presentation to the committee in November 2014. He cited research in Norway and Sweden, two countries with progressive paternity leave structures, and highlighted\u00a0there benefits to society.<\/p>\n
Fathers were more likely to do household chores regularly, relationships were more sustainable, and there was less likelihood of violence and conflict in marriages as a result of increased paternity leave, the studies showed.<\/p>\n
Other presenters on Thursday included trade union federation Cosatu, NGO Sonke Gender Justice (SGJ), and members of the public.<\/p>\n
Mothers from poor communities, supported by SGJ, testified about the positive effects of having a child’s father at home for an extended period.<\/p>\n
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