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John Oliver Makes Brilliant Case For Parental Leave In The U.S.

Just watch as John Oliver slams the U.S. for not treating moms better. We give this a standing ovation.
Kristy Woudstra
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With so many people celebrating Mother's Day on Sunday, John Oliver took the opportunity to make the case for paid parental leave in the U.S. on his show "Last Week Tonight."

Ultimately, Oliver doesn't understand how American politicians and companies can proclaim their love for moms but force them back to work right after they give birth. He points out that the U.S. and Papua New Guinea are the only two countries in the world that do not provide paid leave for new moms.

As a result, many moms return to work way before they want to simply because they can't afford to stay home with their baby. And this doesn't take into account when something goes wrong or when dads want to stay home.

Just watch as Oliver slams the U.S. for not treating new parents better. (Just a warning, Oliver uses some strong language, so you might want to make sure little ears aren't around.)

ALSO ON HUFFPOST:

5 Countries With No Maternity Leave
United States(01 of48)
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New parents in the U.S. are entitled to a measly 12 weeks of job-protected time off under the 1993 Family Medical Leave Act, though with no cash benefits. And the 12-week rule only covers those who work for companies with 50 employees or more. Unfortunately for expectant parents, a full 96 per cent of businesses in the United States have fewer than 50 workers on the payroll.Some states do offer paid leave, along with more enlightened companies, including Google, which gives new parents 22 weeks plus $500 in cash to cover baby-related expenses.Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer increased paid leave for moms from eight weeks to 16; the company also gives dads eight weeks off. (credit:Getty)
Lesotho(02 of48)
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In this tiny nation, nestled within South Africa, life expectancy is just 52 years, three-quarters of the country's two million people are subsistence farmers, and 42 per cent of women are unemployed. (credit:Getty)
Swaziland(03 of48)
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Also located in southern Africa, Swaziland is an impoverished nation where 60 per cent of the population lives on less than $1.25 a day.It also has one of the highest rate of HIV infection among adults aged 15 to 49: 26 per cent. Among pregnant women between the ages of 30 and 24, that spikes to a heart-wrenching 54 per cent.Not surprisingly, the country is in the bottom 10 when it comes to life expectancy, which is just 47 years. (credit:Getty)
Papua New Guinea(04 of48)
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This island just north of Australia remains one of the least explored places in the world. The majority of Papua New Guinea's seven million inhabitants still live in traditional societies and speak 820 indigenous languages. Most women are illiterate and have an average of 3.3 children (compared to 1.89 in the U.S.). (credit:Getty)
Liberia(05 of48)
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The West African nation of Liberia was colonized by black Americans in the 1820s, mostly by freed slaves, who ruled for 130 years.In 1980, they were overthrown in a military coup that led to bloody civil wars that killed 250,000 people and brought Charles Taylor to power. Taylor was himself overthrown after yet another horrific conflict.In 2005, a Harvard-trained economist named Ellen Johnson Sirleaf came to power in Liberia's first fair election. Africa's first female president won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011. So there's hope that Liberia will be surpassing the U.S. on maternity leave sometime soon. (credit:Getty)
Canada(06 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 55 per cent at 17 weeks for maternity leave, and the additional 35 weeks can be taken by either parent. Wages also depend on province. (credit:Getty)
Iceland(07 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 3 Months
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80 (credit:Flickr: biologyfishman)
Germany(08 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:(Photo by Dennis Grombkowski/Bongarts/Getty Images))
Japan(09 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 67 (credit:Flickr: OiMax)
Malta(10 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:Flickr: Magnus Bråth)
New Zealand(11 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks Paid, 38 Weeks Unpaid
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:Flickr: Tākuta)
Switzerland(12 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 14 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80 (credit:Flickr: Oyvind Solstad)
United States(13 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 12 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: No national program but cash benefits may be provided at the state level. (credit:Flickr: Gage Skidmore)
Belgium(14 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 15 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 82 per cent for the first 30 days and 75 per cent for the remaining period. (credit:Getty)
Finland(15 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 105 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 70 (credit:Getty)
Slovenia(16 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 105 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:Flickr: Luigi Rosa)
Austria(17 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:Getty)
France(18 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:Getty)
Latvia(19 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 112 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:Flickr: xmacex)
Luxembourg(20 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:Flickr: James Cridland)
Netherlands(21 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:Flickr: marjoleinknuit)
Spain(22 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 16 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:Flickr: Grey World)
Greece(23 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 119 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 50 (credit:Flickr: tjuel)
Australia(24 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 18 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: Each parent can take up to 12 months of leave, of which 18 weeks are paid. (credit:Getty)
Lithuania(25 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:Flickr: Mr. T in DC)
Belarus(26 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:Getty)
Moldova(27 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:Flickr: Aurelian SÄ)
Ukraine(28 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:Flickr: LancerenoK)
Romania(29 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 126 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 85 (credit:Flickr: gorriti)
Portugal(30 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 120 to 150 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: Parental benefits paid at 100 per cent for the shorter duration of leave and 80 per cent for the longer option (credit:Flickr: freddie boy)
Estonia(31 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 140 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:Getty)
Poland(32 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 20 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:Flickr: Magic Madzik)
Russia(33 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 140 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:Flickr: Mad Wraith)
Italy(34 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 5 Months
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80 (credit:Flickr: Ell Brown )
Bulgaria(35 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 135 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid:90 (credit:Shutterstock)
Hungary(36 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 24 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 70 (credit:Flickr: kat.dodd)
Ireland(37 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 26 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80 (credit:Flickr: Tom Raftery)
Czech Republic(38 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 28 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 60 (credit:Getty)
Slovakia(39 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 28 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 55 (credit:Flickr: quinet)
Macedonia(40 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 9 Months
Percentage Of Wages Paid: Not found. (credit:Flickr: Zé.Valdi)
Norway(41 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 36 to 46 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: Parental benefits paid at 100 per cent for the shorter duration of leave and 80 per cent for the longer option. (credit:Flickr: Lemsipmatt)
Albania(42 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 365 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80 per cent prior to birth and for 150 days after and 50 per cent for the rest of the leave period. Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha shown here. (credit:Getty)
Bosnia And Herzegovina(43 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 1 Year
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 82 per cent for the first 30 days and 75 per cent for the remaining period. (credit:Shutterstock)
Croatia(44 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 1 Year
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:Getty)
Denmark(45 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:Getty)
Serbia(46 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 52 Weeks
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 100 (credit:Flickr: Knight Foundation)
United Kingdom(47 of48)
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52 Weeks 90 (p) (credit:Fickr: Gage Skidmore)
Sweden(48 of48)
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Length Of Maternity Leave: 420 Days
Percentage Of Wages Paid: 80 (credit:Flickr: morberg)

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