Labour pledges paid leave for fathers

United Kingdom
20/02/2001
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The Government has announced that fathers will be given paid leave at the time of the birth of their child. It has also been confirmed that the leave will be funded by the Government and will not be a cost borne by employers.

Paid leave for fathers was one of the options set out in the Green Paper "Work and Parents: Competitiveness and Choice" which was published in December. The Green Paper is a consultation document seeking views on various options to make it easier for working parents to balance their responsibilities to their employer and their family. This included a suggestion that fathers should be given a period of 2 weeks leave at the time of the birth of their child paid at the same rate as Statutory Maternity Pay ("SMP"), currently GBP 60.20.

The consultation period on the Green Paper does not close until 7 March 2001. However, Stephen Byers, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, said this week that giving fathers paid leave has received overwhelming support from parents and employers.

The length of leave and level of pay have not yet been confirmed, although it seems likely that it will be 2 weeks at the rate of SMP as suggested in the Green Paper.

If you have any queries on paternity leave, or general maternity and parental rights, please contact Amanda Sheridan or Anthony Fincham by e-mail at [email protected] or [email protected], or alternatively by telephone on +44 (0) 20 7367 3000.

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