New Law Gives Parents Seven Days Paid Leave After The Loss Of A Child Under 18
A small but meaningful step is being taken to support parents who go through the heartbreaking loss of a child under 18. From 1st January, all parents in Malta will be entitled to seven days of paid bereavement leave, Social Dialogue Junior Minister Andy Ellul has announced.
Currently, parents are only entitled to one or two days, depending on their sector, a discrepancy the new law will finally fix. The measure will cover all employees, regardless of where they work, and will be fully funded by the government.
-
Full-time employees will get their full salary
-
Part-timers will receive a pro-rata payment
-
Self-employed parents will be paid the median wage
The entitlement will apply to both parents, including same-sex couples, giving them a little breathing space during what is arguably the most devastating loss a person can face.
Ellul acknowledged the pain of losing a child, saying:
“In life, there is no greater loss than when a parent loses a child. But this is part of life and the reality around us, and when it happens, the world of those parents changes forever. Nothing can fill that void, and no measure can dampen that pain. But the government felt we could do something in the working world to offer a shoulder to lean on for these parents, to give them the space to process the pain they are going through.”
The need for this leave became clear during discussions on miscarriage and maternity leave, which also highlighted the challenges faced by parents whose children are in the NPICU (the children’s intensive care unit for babies up to age three).
Ellul added that women who lost a baby after 22 weeks, considered a stillbirth, currently do not qualify for miscarriage or maternity leave, a gap that will also be debated in Parliament starting tomorrow.
This new bereavement leave marks an important recognition of the emotional toll on grieving parents, giving them time, support, and a bit of space to breathe during unimaginable grief.
Photo credits Andy Ellul on Facebook
READ NEXT: Six Noise Complaints Against Sliema Bars Thrown Out After Prosecution Errors
