The amendments are intended to impose an employer's obligation to grant leave without pay, if requested by an employee who needs to personally care for a spouse, parent, child or another close family or household member due to medical reasons.
At the request of the employer, the employee will have to provide information to verify the existence of a serious medical reason, the draft law provides. Leave is scheduled to be granted for a period of not more than five working days within one year and may be used partially.
It is also planned to extend the period of use for the parental leave up to six months after the birth of the child (currently four months).
For the amendments to the law to enter into force, the Saeima will need to support them in two more readings.
