IMATU SECURES LANDMARK VICTORY FOR SURROGACY PARENTS

IMATU has achieved a historic breakthrough in local government. With immediate effect, all commissioning parents in surrogacy arrangements will now qualify for three months’ fully paid leave.

This means that surrogacy based parents are now fully recognised and entitled to the same leave benefits as biological and adoptive parents.

This achievement follows IMATU’s successful negotiation of an amendment to the Main Collective Agreement (the conditions of service agreement), setting a new standard for parental rights in the sector.

The amendment honours the caregiving role of parents and moves us closer to real gender equality in the workplace. Every child deserves a parent who can be present. Every parent deserves time to bond with their child.

But the amendment wasn’t just negotiated, it was fought for.

IMATU’s Cape Town Region led the way. When commissioning parents who welcomed their children through surrogacy were denied paid leave, the Region took action. They took not one, but two cases to the Labour Court. In both instances, the employer backed down and settled, recognising the truth: Surrogacy parents are parents, full stop.

These victories weren’t just personal wins, they laid the foundation for national change.

They showed that when IMATU fights, we fight all the way, in negotiations, in the workplace, and in court if necessary.

This is not just a victory for IMATU members, it is a recognition of dignity and a milestone for gender equality in local government. No woman, regardless of how she becomes a mother, should have to choose between starting a family and sacrificing her salary.

Because families are built in many ways, and every family deserves respect.

IMATU FIGHTS FOR ALL FAMILIES. FOR ALL WOMEN. FOR DIGNITY!!

For more insight, see the amendment and IMATU’s media release attached hereto.