Legislature now provides for two ways in which working parents can take time off.
The leave is restricted to 3 days in any period of 12 consecutive months or 5 days in any 36-month period. Mothers and fathers are entitled to 14 weeks each parental leave in respect of each child under the act. The entitlement applies only to employees who have one year s continuous employment with the employer and applies only in respect of children under 5 years of age. The employer may request the child's birth certificate and then must draw up a 'Confirmation Document' to be given to the employee not less than four weeks prior to the date of departure. It is a binding document and the employer is required to keep it on file for eight years, the employee for one year.