Fed: PM says paid maternity leave should not be forced

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Fed: PM says paid maternity leave should not be forced

CANBERRA, April 12 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard today said paid maternity leaveshould not be forced upon Australian companies.

Mr Howard, who was speaking to journalists after addressing a women's conference, saidpaid maternity leave should not be mandated because it would result in job losses at companieswhich could not afford it.

"I think they are matters of negotiation and they should be matters that are determinedat an enterprise level," he said.

"Some enterprises can afford it and some enterprises can't.

"And I don't think they should be forced upon those enterprises who can't afford itbecause what it will do is rob people of job opportunities."

Mr Howard also ruled out tax incentives for companies willing to offer paid maternity leave.

"We've provided a lot of tax incentives for companies and we don't have any more atthe moment, I can assure you," he said.

Australia joins the United States as the only two developed nations not to offer paidmaternity leave.

AAP sm/daw/mg/de

KEYWORD: MATERNITY HOWARD