A bill submitted by DISY MP, Savia Orfanidou, aims to abolish the age restriction for parental leave for parents of people with disabilities.
The proposal was submitted yesterday to the Plenary Session of the Parliament and was referred for discussion to the Parliamentary Committee on Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance.
The proposed regulation amends the existing Law on Leaves (Paternity, Parental Care, Force Majeure) and Flexible Working Arrangements for Work-Life Balance.
This law provides that parental leave is taken between the period between the end of the maternity or paternity leave taken, as the case may be, until the child's 15th year of age.
Furthermore, the current legislation provides that in the case of a parent of a person with a disability, in compliance with the provisions of the Law on Persons with Disabilities, the right to take parental leave is extended until the 21st year of age of the person with a disability.
The proposed law completely removes this restriction, allowing parents of people with disabilities to take the relevant leave without any age limit.
According to the explanatory memorandum, which accompanies the proposal, the extension of the period for taking parental leave is considered necessary for the effective care of people with disabilities.
This regulation, as stated by the rapporteur, aims to stop the phenomenon where parents with disabilities are forced, due to the increased care needs, to permanently abandon their work, or to resort to unpaid leave, burdening the financial situation of the family.
The bill is expected to be examined by the Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance Committee, in order to formulate the final text that will be brought back to the Plenary for voting.
