March 26, 2021

Anna Murray 

The bereavement allowance passed after a unanimous vote on March 24 by New Zealand's parliament gives employees 3 days' paid leave when a pregnancy ends with a stillbirth. In addition, working mothers and their partners in New Zealand are allowed to take paid leave after suffering a miscarriage or stillbirth.

Virginia Ruby Andersen, also known as Ginny Andersen, a New Zealand politician and Member of Parliament in the House of Representatives for the Labour Party, praised the new bereavement allowance passed by New Zealand’s parliament and encourages the world to follow. And Labour MP Ginny Anderson indicated that the new law would comfort the women and help remove the stigma surrounding miscarriage.

New Zealand becomes the first self-governing country to allow women to vote in 1893. In recent years, New Zealand has passed a number of laws, including moves to reduce the impact of period poverty, favored and hailed by women's rights groups. A year ago New Zealand has reversed its stance and decriminalized abortion. The new bill passed without any dissent from the New Zealand legislators apparently posts another step forward in women's human rights in the country.

Photo:Webshot.