A petition calling for parents to receive more days of leave when needing to care for an ill child has received nearly 4,300 electronic signatures more than a month before it is due to close.
The petition was submitted in early January 2016 by Silvia Sousa Gomes, a self-described single mother, who claimed that the current system of a maximum two days off per year per child was not enough, particularly for parents with small children.
According to Ms. Sousa Gomes, whose campaign has now received 4,292 online signatures on the Chamber of Deputies website, kindergartens often do not allow sick children to attend classes, resulting in pressure on parents to find other means of staying home and looking after them. The petitioner explained that she herself had faced that very issue several times, with no family members nearby and a limited number of options available.
"We want immediate action! We want more information!" stated Ms. Sousa Gomes, who will be hoping that her campaign receives the 4,500 signed declarations of support needed for the matter to be discussed in parliament, before the petition is closed on 7 March 2016.
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