Female jockeys in NSW will receive paid parental leave
Female jockeys in NSW will receive paid parental leave after the state’s racing authority moved to plug a legislative loophole.
Under safety regulations, jockeys are not allowed ride after their first trimester making them ineligible for the federal government’s parental leave scheme which requires women to have worked at least 10 of the preceding 13 months before having a baby.
Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys says jockeys will receive eight weeks’ pay based on their average weekly earnings for the previous year.
“This loophole in the legislation is grossly unfair to female jockeys,” V’landys said.
“Accordingly, we will pay them until the legislation is rectified.”
The amount will be capped at how much they would have received in total from the government’s scheme.
“The Racing NSW scheme will continue as long as it is required,” V’landys said.
