Fed: Paid maternity leave would help address pay gaps: Greens
01 Apr 2009 1:43 PM
The Australian Greens say introducing a national paid maternity leave scheme would help address the vast pay gaps between men and women.
New research shows Australian men have the potential to earn around one million dollars more than women over their lifetime.
A report from AMP Financial Services shows a 25-year-old man's potential earnings over the next 40 years is 2.4 million .. compared to 1.5 million for a woman of the same age.
And a man with children who holds a bachelor degree or higher will earn around 3.3 million .. compared to 1.8 million for a woman in the same boat.
Greens senator SARAH HANSON-YOUNG says the problem's worse for women with children.
She says introducing paid parental leave in this year's budget would ensure the gender pay gap doesn't disadvantage younger women.
