Cut in maternity leave to give fathers more time off - The Times, yesterday
Rosemary Bennett, Social Affairs Correspondent of The Times, writes 30th March 2009
"Statutory maternity leave should be cut to six months and new paid leave given to fathers, a report from the equalities watchdog says.
The focus on maternity leave has entrenched the notion that only mothers look after children and damages women’s careers by making them less attractive employees, the group warns.
New mothers currently get nine months of paid leave, six weeks at 90 per cent of their salary and the rest at the statutory rate of £117.18 per week. The Government has promised that mothers will get a full year’s leave by 2010. Fathers currently get two weeks leave at the statutory rate.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission said that these are the most unequal arrangements in Europe. It wants fathers and mothers to be entitled to four months of “parental leave” with at least eight weeks paid at 90 per cent of their salary and the rest at the statutory rate. Parental leave would be “use it or lose it” so fathers could not transfer any unused leave to their partners but another four months of partly paid “family leave” would be divided up between them.
The whole package would cost an extra £5.26 billion a year on top of the £2.07 billion at the moment. The commission recommends introducing it over ten years and said that it would represent 0.53 per cent of GDP.
As a statutory watchdog, the commission’s proposals are always taken seriously by ministers. It pressed successfully for parents’ right to request flexible working, which was introduced in 2003. Nicola Brewer, the chief executive of the commission, said: “When it comes to modern approaches to parental leave, we may need to try a different route.”
However, the proposals will reignite a Cabinet row over maternity rights. Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, is seeking to delay the extension of maternity leave while Harriet Harman, the Equality Minister, wants to press ahead.
Business leaders criticised the plan. Stephen Alambritis, of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “We really need a reality check before starting to consider another push on parental leave. These are very difficult times.”
Dads Unlimited Dads - what do you think??
"Statutory maternity leave should be cut to six months and new paid leave given to fathers, a report from the equalities watchdog says.
The focus on maternity leave has entrenched the notion that only mothers look after children and damages women’s careers by making them less attractive employees, the group warns.
New mothers currently get nine months of paid leave, six weeks at 90 per cent of their salary and the rest at the statutory rate of £117.18 per week. The Government has promised that mothers will get a full year’s leave by 2010. Fathers currently get two weeks leave at the statutory rate.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission said that these are the most unequal arrangements in Europe. It wants fathers and mothers to be entitled to four months of “parental leave” with at least eight weeks paid at 90 per cent of their salary and the rest at the statutory rate. Parental leave would be “use it or lose it” so fathers could not transfer any unused leave to their partners but another four months of partly paid “family leave” would be divided up between them.
The whole package would cost an extra £5.26 billion a year on top of the £2.07 billion at the moment. The commission recommends introducing it over ten years and said that it would represent 0.53 per cent of GDP.
As a statutory watchdog, the commission’s proposals are always taken seriously by ministers. It pressed successfully for parents’ right to request flexible working, which was introduced in 2003. Nicola Brewer, the chief executive of the commission, said: “When it comes to modern approaches to parental leave, we may need to try a different route.”
However, the proposals will reignite a Cabinet row over maternity rights. Lord Mandelson, the Business Secretary, is seeking to delay the extension of maternity leave while Harriet Harman, the Equality Minister, wants to press ahead.
Business leaders criticised the plan. Stephen Alambritis, of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: “We really need a reality check before starting to consider another push on parental leave. These are very difficult times.”
Dads Unlimited Dads - what do you think??
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