Fathers lose out on paternity payments because of confusion in Sejm

Fathers will have no right to paternity benefits, the Sejm has ruled. The decision was reached amid chaotic scenes, with MPs later claiming that they had "got confused" and did not know what they were voting for. The problem arose after two motions on the same issue were to be voted on one after the other. The proposal to grant benefits for fathers was designed to close a loophole in an amendment to the Labor Code passed by parliament in April, which made no mention of fathers when discussing welfare payments for parents. Following the confusion over the vote, MPs turned to Sejm speaker Maciej Plazynski to call another vote on the motion, but their request was rejected and will not be discussed again until the next sitting of parliament. (Gazeta Wyborcza, June 23-24, p. 5) J.K.