Racing New South Wales To Make Female Jockeys Eligible For Paid Parental Leave

Female jockeys in New South Wales "will be eligible for paid parental leave" after Racing NSW announced its own scheme on Tuesday, according to Ray Hickson of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH. A legislative loophole means jockeys do not qualify for the Australian Government’s parental leave scheme "which requires recipients to have worked for 10 of the 13 months prior to giving birth." Due to safety requirements, the rules of racing do not allow jockeys to ride after their first trimester (three months) "and that makes them ineligible for federal assistance." Racing NSW CEO Peter V’landys said that jockeys would be able to receive eight weeks' pay based on their average weekly earnings for the previous year. There are 60 female jockeys licensed in NSW. V'landys: "This loophole in the legislation is grossly unfair to female jockeys. Accordingly, we will pay them until the legislation is rectified" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 11/29).