Coronavirus related paid leave being considered for parents

Isabel Celaá, Minister for Education, is looking into the potential for paid leave for parents that need to look after quarantined children.

Isabel Celaá, the Minister for Education, has confirmed that the government is investigating methods to ensure that parents who have to look after children that have been quarantined due to Covid-19. Their current plans investigating Coronavirus-related paid leave revolve around two potential solutions; paid leave, which is being investigated alongside the Minister for Labour, or a leave of absence which is being considered by the Minister for Health.

Amidst the range of concerns that parents have about children going back to school during the ongoing pandemic and the recent rise in Spanish cases, Isabel Celaá stated on Wednesday morning that these measures are being considered should a child under 13 years old have to quarantine after coming into close contact with someone testing positive for Covid-19.

The measures are being considered to ensure that parents do not lose income during a justifiable and valid reason for absence during this pandemic.

Although schools are scheduled to go back, Celaá confirmed that she believed there was still time to pass the proposals through the appropriate government channels.

A number of activist groups have argued recently that the need for parents to take time off work without paid a Coronavirus-related paid leave due to childcare issues could adversely and unequally affect women in particular.

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