Business NZ opposed to extending paid parental leave

There have been robust exchanges as Business New Zealand's taken a stand against extending paid parental leave to 26 weeks.

The organisation's representative Paul McKay's faced lengthy and pointed questioning from the proposal's sponsor Labour MP Sue Moroney during parliamentary hearings today.

Ms Moroney's scathing of Business New Zealand's submission, going so far as to ask if disgraced former Employer and Manufacturers Association boss Alasdair Thompson had written it.

Mr McKay regards the allegation as ridiculous.

"Alasdair Thompson doesn't work for us, is not, will not, will never be associated with the development of this particular proposal."

There were also claims from Business New Zealand that women need to be retrained when they go back into the workforce after taking maternity leave. The claim's being scoffed at by MPs.

The suggestion was made by Mr McKay when submitting on Sue Moroney's Bill extending paid parental leave from 14 weeks to 26 weeks today.

Ms Moroney has this reaction.

"Tell Stephen Donald that. I think he kicked over the winning goal in the World Cup for us and he'd been whitebaiting before that, so I don't even know if that analogy stacks up."

Social development minister Paula Bennett thinks the claim goes too far.

"I wouldn't have thought so. I can't imagine me losing my edge after three months or longer, but I suppose it would different for different jobs."

CTU Women's Council co-convenor Sheryl Cadman says it's an insult to women.

"I just think that's an absolute nonsense. It's not as if women are living in caves when they go away and have their babies, they're still part of society, they're still part of the community they remain in their links to society, to the community and probably to their workplace."

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