Parents could get longer maternity and paternity leave under government plans to improve work-life balance for families.
A review of the Britain’s parental leave rights – pledged in Labour’s election manifesto – will be published on Tuesday.
Current laws allow parents to share up to 50 weeks of leave to spend time with their child, with up to 37 weeks of this paid.
But statutory paternity leave only allows fathers to take up to two paid weeks off work, with £187.18 a week or 90 per cent of their average earnings, depending on which is the lower amount – meaning mothers tend to take the majority of the allotted leave.
Mothers receive 90 per cent of their average weekly earnings for the first six weeks, and £187.18 or 90 per cent of average weekly earnings, whichever is lower, for the next 33 weeks.
It is understood that the government review will look at all aspects of the parental leave system and possible solutions, which may include longer maternity and paternity leave.
Statutory paternity leave currently only allows fathers to take up to two paid weeks off work (Photo: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing via Getty Images)Campaigners have argued for more rights for new parents to help them balance their work and life commitments.
But the Conservatives warned the measures will add more costs to employers, on top of the rise in employers’ national insurance introduced this year.
The review is part of Keir Starmer’s Plan to Make Work Pay, which the Department for Business and Trade said would better support working families and help children get the best start in life.
Ministers also claim the review will help boost economic growth.
The terms of reference for the review will be published in full on Tuesday, but it will look at all types of leave, including maternity, paternity and shared parental leave, to make the system fairer and easier to use.
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The Department for Business and Trade said one in three fathers do not take paternity leave because they cannot afford to, and that take-up of shared parental leave remains very low.
Research shows that better parental leave can help close the gender pay gap and boost the economy by billions of pounds.
The review will gather views from parents, employers and experts across the country and will produce a “roadmap” for possible reforms.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: “Those early years are the most special time for families, but too many struggle to balance their work and home lives.
“Supporting working parents isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s vital for our economy.”
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “The arrival of a child, whether through birth or adoption, is a life-changing moment. We want to make sure parents get the support they need to balance work and family life.
“Campaigners have long called for change, and this Government has listened. This review is our chance to reset the system and build something that works for modern families and businesses.”
Jane van Zyl, chief executive of Working Families, said: “Backing up the Government’s findings, our own research shows the current system is falling short, with one in five fathers having no access to parental leave at all, and many others unable to take what they’re entitled to due to financial pressures.
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“This review is a vital opportunity to build a parental leave system that supports the needs of families today.”
George Gabriel, co-founder of The Dad Shift: “Our broken parental leave has been overlooked for years, and finally sorting it out would be good not only for parents and children but for businesses too.”
Rachel Grocott, chief executive of Pregnant then Screwed, said: “We know improving parental leave helps children get the best start in life, as well as being better for parents’ heath and equality at home, and closing gender pay and participation gaps in the workplace too. Investing in parental leave will pay back above and beyond, to the bottom line and to society: it really is a no-brainer.”
But shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith said: “Just as the Chancellor has killed growth with record taxes, Labour ministers need to wake up and realise the more costs that are piled on to employers, the more jobs will be destroyed.
“Britain already has among the most generous parental rights in the world but under Labour unemployment has increased every month and that’s before some of their most damaging ideas kick in. If you’ve no job in the first place it doesn’t matter how much family leave you get.
“No one round the cabinet table has any real business experience. Perhaps that’s why they seem to think there is a jobs fountain under the magic money tree.”
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