Teachers call for leave for reproductive health matters

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation is the first union in the public service to seek a Statutory Leave for Reproductive Health Related Matters Scheme.

Primary school teachers have called for the introduction of a scheme of leave for reproductive health related matters.

At the INTO’s annual Congress in Galway, teachers called for a comprehensive review of the current sick leave and pregnancy-related sick leave schemes.

Teachers speaking at the INTO Congress shared heart-wrenching personal stories of miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy and fertility treatment, which are not encompassed by the current pregnancy-related sick leave scheme.

INTO’s Equality Committee recently conducted a survey to gather evidence of members’ reproductive health issues as interact with their work. Responses were received by over 2,200 teachers, showing the deep impact of the issue across the country.