April 8, 2021 NewsFamily law

A win for working South African dads

As of 1 January 2019, working South African fathers will be entitled to 10 days’ paid paternity leave, which will be funded by the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF).

Prior to this, fathers were allowed just three days’ paid leave, through family responsibility leave. This gave them little time to bond with their newborns and assist in raising them during those crucial first weeks.
Research shows that the effects of early paternal bonding are positive for the child and the father; it’s vital to the child’s healthy development, and it promotes the likelihood that the father will be more actively involved in the long-term care of his children.

The act also includes a few other notable changes, such as provision being made for adoptive parents and surrogates.
The unemployed will enjoy better benefits, too; the UIF benefits for those who have lost their jobs have increased from 8 to 12 months.

While being an absolute joy, caring for a newborn can also cause incredible stress for parents, often leading to a strained relationship. Hopefully, with new fathers having the legal freedom to spend more time with their babies and partners, South African marriages also will benefit from the act.

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