Legislation to
give parents more choice and flexibility in how they use maternity
and paternity leave will be introduced under Government plans
outlined today.
New fathers can take advantage of additional paternity leave and
pay during the second six months of the child’s life, if the
mother wishes to return to work with maternity leave outstanding.
This will enable parents to share a period of paid leave between
them, giving families greater flexibility in how they choose to
look after their children.
In order to give employers time to adjust the changes will be
introduced for parents of children due on or after 3 April 2011.
Business Minister Pat McFadden said:
“The Government has transformed the help available to new parents
with increased maternity pay and leave and the introduction of
paternity leave. The balance between work and family life has
changed for the better in the past decade and these changes will
give parents the chance to share their leave will give families a
useful element of flexibility and choice.
Harriet Harman, Minister for Women and Equality,
said:
“Mothers will be able to choose to transfer the last six months
of their maternity leave to the father, with three months paid.
This gives families radically more choice and flexibility in how
they balance work and care of children, and enables fathers to
play a bigger part in bringing up their children.
“We’ve doubled maternity leave; doubled maternity pay; introduced
paternity leave; more than doubled good quality affordable
childcare places; and introduced right to request flexible working.
“This is a further family friendly policy.”
The move comes as the Government publishes its response to a
consultation on the subject held at the end of 2009. The
regulations will mean:
Fathers will be entitled to up to six months extra leave, which
can be taken once the mother has returned to work;This new
provision will be available during the second six months of the
child’s life, giving parents the option of dividing a period of
paid leave entitlement between themSome of the leave may be paid
if taken during the mother’s 39 week maternity pay period. This
would be paid at the same rate as Statutory Maternity Pay
(currently £123.06);Parents will be required to “self certify” by
providing details of their eligibility to their employer.
Employers and HMRC will both be able to carry out further checks
of entitlement if necessary.
The Government has tabled the regulations for Parliament to
consider as soon as possible. They will need to be debated and
approved by each House before they can be implemented. Subject to
this, the Government intends that the law be in force by April
2010 and have effect for parents of children due on or after 3
April 2011.
Notes to Editors
1) Employed fathers are currently entitled to two weeks paid
paternity leave and mothers to 52 weeks maternity leave, of which
up to 39 weeks are paid. Employed parents are also entitled to a
total of 13 weeks unpaid parental leave until the child’s fifth
birthday. Parents of children aged 16 and under have the right to
request flexible working. These rights will not be affected by the
introduction of additional paternity leave.
2) Legislation already delivered by Government includes the
extension of Statutory Maternity Leave from six to nine months and
increased Statutory Maternity Pay from £60.20 a week in 2001 to
£123.06 now, the largest increase in maternity allowance since
1948 and the introduction of Statutory Paternity Leave.
3) A public consultation on the legal and technical
aspectsof Additional Paternity Leave & Pay took place
between 25 September and 20 November 2009. The Government response
to the public consultation can be viewed here: http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file54374.pdf
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills
The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is
building a dynamic and competitive UK economy by: creating the
conditions for business success; promoting innovation, enterprise
and science; and giving everyone the skills and opportunities to
succeed. To achieve this it will foster world-class universities
and promote an open global economy. BIS - Investing in our future.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Matthew Barker
Phone: 020 7215 5946
Matthew.Barker@bis.gsi.gov.uk