Canterbury Mornings

A widowed father who was unable to get access to paid parental leave after his wife died in childbirth will be compensated by the Government.Workplace Relations Minister Iain Lees-Galloway says the Christchurch-based father would get an ex gratia payment of the equivalent amount to the paid leave he had missed out on.An ex gratia payment is a one-off, no obligation grant.The father, Keith, was unable to get paid parental leave because his partner had not worked for 12 months before delivering the baby.Keith spoke to Richard Green, saying "It's massive for me and baby... Today's a small victory that's going to change my life".