By Letitia Rowlands<\/p>\n
Only 786 businesses across Australia had registered for the Government’s paid parental leave scheme just three weeks before it starts.<\/p>\n
Business groups said many employers — especially small businesses — were confused about their role in adminstering a scheme they labelled as unnecessary red tape.<\/p>\n
Parents of babies born on or after January 1 are eligible for the scheme, which pays the primary carer the minimum wage of $570 a week for 18 weeks if they meet work and income requirements.<\/p>\n
Nationally, 4091 people already have applied, with 1283 from NSW.<\/p>\n
It will be funded by the Government but administered by employers, which business groups said was causing confusion and anger.<\/p>\n
Council of Small Businesses Australia chief executive Peter Strong said some employers were not aware of the scheme, let alone of the role they had to play.<\/p>\n
“It makes us very angry,” Mr Strong said. “It’s confusing, particularly for small business owners who are too busy working to be worrying about this.<\/p>\n
“They expect small businesses to administer this like big companies which have a pay master.<\/p>\n
“There is no reason the payment could not be made directly from government.”<\/p>\n
Employers must register for the scheme but only 786 businesses across the country have so far taken that step.<\/p>\n
If a woman’s employer has not registered and she is entitled to the payment, the Government will administer the payment until July 1.<\/p>\n
It will then become an employer’s responsibility and the Government will contact the business about registering if they have not done so.<\/p>\n
Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick agreed there was some confusion but believed employers should be the ones to administer the payment.<\/p>\n
“As with any huge change in public policy, there is some level of confusion,” she said.<\/p>\n
There was also confusion among many expectant mothers unsure whether they should claim the Paid Parental Leave, which is taxed, or the Baby Bonus, which is not.<\/p>\n
“There will be some women who will opt to go for the baby bonus,” she said.<\/p>\n
What it means:<\/strong><\/p>\n * The national Paid Parental Leave scheme starts on January 1<\/p>\n * It provides 18 weeks pay at the $570 minimum wage<\/p>\n * Primary carer must be in paid work for at least 10 months before the birth<\/p>\n * Restricted to those who earned less than $150,000<\/p>\n Article from The Daily Telegraph, December 13, 2010.<\/p>\n <\/body><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By Letitia Rowlands Only 786 businesses across Australia had registered for the Government’s paid parental leave scheme just three weeks before it starts. Business groups said many employers — especially small businesses — were confused about their role in adminstering a scheme they labelled as unnecessary red tape. Parents of babies born on or after […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":686,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[7,6],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n