Wrexham MP compares UK parental leave to European countries
Last week the UK Government announced a long-awaited review into the pay and leave that new parents can get after the birth of a child.
The system has not been reviewed for years and in that time, peoples' working habits and families have changed.
The Women and Equalities Committee recently reported that the UK's parental leave system was "one of the worst in the developed world" with "fundamental flaws".
According to the campaign group The Dad Shift, one in three fathers take no paternity leave at all (paternity leave is currently 2 weeks in the UK) and despite shared parental leave being available, UK Government data shows that it is rarely taken.
The UK system is also confusing to navigate with eight different types of parental leave available.
Statutory maternity pay is less than half of the weekly National Living Wage for example.
There are some interesting comparisons and approaches across Europe.
In Spain for example, fathers can have 16 weeks at full pay, including for those who are self-employed.
There is no cap on the salary paid.
It means parental leave is now equal between parents in Spain.
In Denmark, fathers including those who are self-employed, can take up to 24 weeks off work at full pay supported by the state.
After eleven weeks, the remaining 13 weeks can be transferred to the birth partner to be used as extra maternity leave.
Parents also have the option to postpone up to 13 weeks of parental leave until their child is aged nine.
Research by the Centre for Progressive Policy found that there was a 4% decrease in the gender wage gap in countries with more than 6 weeks of paid paternity leave.
Furthermore only 18% of people they surveyed felt that 2 weeks of paternity pay in the UK was enough.
So, there is plenty to work on and to consider.
The review is expected to take 18months.
If you would like to raise anything with me about this issue or any other, please contact my office on 01978 788854 or email Andrew.Ranger.MP@parliament.uk
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