Paid parental leave is needed to ensure a work-life balance, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) said today.
Speaking at an event to mark Work-Life Balance Day, which was hosted by the National Framework Committee for Work-Life Balance Policies, Ictu's Assistant General Secretary, Sally Anne Kinahan said studies have shown many people will never be able to afford to take up unpaid leave.
"Unpaid leave discriminates in favour of the better-off who can afford to take time off from work without pay," she said.
"This is patently unfair and will lead to the creation of a two-tier workforce. It also makes the achievement of work-life balance more difficult for the majority of working parents.
"Congress expects progress to be made on the issue of paid leave, in the context of the current partnership talks."
Opening the event, Minister of State for Labour Affairs Tony Killeen said work-life balance is "not just an issue for importance to the individual.
"It is also of strategic importance to the efficient operation of the labour market and is a key issue for competitiveness.
He added: "We must facilitate the ongoing contribution of older, more experienced workers within the labour force and increase participation in the labour force of other excluded groups."
The Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec) said tremendous progress has been made over the past few years.
"61% of companies in Ireland now offer flexible working arrangements and the new maternity and adoptive leave legislation that comes into force today is one of the most generous leave provisions in all of Europe," said its director of European and social policy Maria Cronin.
The Labour party said the issue one the Government should make sure is discussed at the ongoing partnership talks
Senator Kathleen O'Meara said: "Flexible working arrangements, where they're available such as in the public sector, are giving parents access to achieving work-life balance.
"However Government policy pays no heed whatsoever to the flexible working requirements of Irish parents. For instance there is no paid parental leave. The only leave available is unpaid, so it's no wonder the take-up is so bad. People simply can't afford it."
