The deputies called Chancellor Rachel Reeves to extend the statutory paternity leave of the United Kingdom, arguing that the improvement of the offer for new fathers would increase the participation of women in the workforce and increase the economy.
The ministers have undertaken to examine the parental holidays, under which new fathers are entitled to two weeks off after the birth of a child at 187.18 £ per week or 90% of average weekly income, which is lower than what is lower than.
The British paternity leave system, which entered into force in 2003, within the framework of the previous Labor government, is the least generous of all European countries and compared to 16 weeks of leave fully paid for new parents in Spain.
Alistair Strathern, Labor deputy and private parliamentary secretary of Reeves, said: “The current system vibrates in a sexospecific parenting division which prevents women from returning to work where they wish, and we all lose accordingly.”
He underlined the modeling by the charity of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the reflection group on progressive policy, which revealed that the increase in statutory leave in the United Kingdom at six weeks to 90% of a father's revenues would generate “an effect on the scale of the economy of 2.68 billion pounds sterling” per year.
The cost for HM Revenue & Customs of Pères taking four weeks off in addition to their two -week rights is 1.15 billion pounds sterling, according to the study. But he indicated that this would be offset by an increase of 930 million pounds sterling in tax revenue following women who return to work earlier.
Strathern said: “We already know the advantages of more time for fathers to connect with their baby, but this research also highlights the strong economic and equality for action too.”
Freddie Van Mierlo, a liberal democratic deputy, described the current paternity system as “quite simply not good enough”, and urged the government to “take measures” to improve it.
“All the evidence suggests improving paternity leave and remuneration also improves equality, and now we also have the proofs that it is good for the economy,” he added.
Gaps on gender wages in countries offering six weeks or more of paternity leave were less than 4% than in countries with a less generous offer, according to OECD Data Analysis by the Center for Progressive Policy in 2023.
Participation rates of the workforce between men and women were also less than 3.7% in countries offering six weeks or more.
As part of the current British system, new mothers are entitled to a minimum of 39 weeks of statutory leave, receiving 90% of average weekly income during the first six weeks.
Maternity and paternity salary are financed mainly by the government. Employers are generally able to claim 92% of legal payments, depending on the size of the company.
During the Prime Minister's questions earlier this year, Sir Keir Starmer said the government “expanded parental rights.”
“We are doing a parental leave exam because you cannot develop the economy if parents must choose between work and their children,” said the Prime Minister.
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation also calls for a new “paternity allowance” linked to profits, which would give independent fathers – which have not currently presented – paid leave with the equivalent of six weeks of 90% of average weekly income.
Luke Charters, another Labor MP, said: “I look forward to my next paternity leave in July to have the chance to build a solid early link with my second son.
“But the UK's paternity leave system remains structurally exceeded and increasingly offset with a large part of Europe, forcing the economic potential of the United Kingdom,” he added. “(Reform) is an obvious policy.”
George Gabriel, co-founder of The Dad Shift, a campaign group, said: “The appropriate leave for dads means that more women go back to work. They do it earlier and with more success.”
The Department of Affairs and Trade said: “Our change plan is on the side of the working parents, which is why we make paternity leave and unpaid parental leave the rights of the first bill on employment rights.
“We are also committed to examining the wider parental authorization to ensure that it offers the best possible support to families“, He added.
Visualization of data by Amy Borrett
