Starmer hails parental leave changes as putting ‘dignity back at heart of work’
The Prime Minister praised the changes to parental leave as “putting dignity back at the heart of it”.
These reforms, a central part of Labour’s flagship workers’ rights package, will introduce unpaid parental leave from an employee’s first day in a new job. The government says this will offer an additional 1.5 million parents greater flexibility in sharing childcare responsibilities.
Separately, bereaved spouses are also set to receive increased paternity leave rights from April under new laws. This means fathers and partners who lose their spouses before their child’s first birthday can take up to 52 weeks of leave.
According to the Department of Business and Trade (DBT), it is estimated that around 390,000 people are unemployed due to caring responsibilities, including parents, but want a job.
The Government has said the changes will be introduced to Parliament on Monday after the Employment Rights Bill received Royal Assent in December.
Sir Keir Starmer said in a statement: “The changes we are introducing will mean that every new parent can take appropriate leave when they have a child and no one will be forced to work while sick just to make ends meet.
“This is about giving working families the support they need to balance work, healthcare and living expenses.
“We offer a modern deal for workers.
“Stronger sick pay, parental leave from day one and protections that put dignity back at the heart of work.
“Because when we respect and reward those who keep Britain going, we build a stronger economy for everyone.”
Business Minister Peter Kyle said: “No one needs to worry about whether they’ll be able to take leave when their baby is born or whether they’ll lose pay just because they get sick.”
“They will ensure our drive for growth reaches everyone by providing secure, fair-paying jobs and supporting people when they need it most,” he added.
First day rights to statutory sick pay, a ban on zero-hour contracts and new protections for new mothers and pregnant women are also included in the landmark Employment Rights Bill.
The government had previously given up workers’ first-day rights against unfair dismissal in order to pass the legislation in Parliament.
It now plans to activate the six-month service entitlement instead.
TUC general secretary Paul Nowak said: “The Employment Rights Act would deliver vital commonsense reforms for millions of people across the country, including sick pay for all workers and better leave for parents.
“Britain will now be brought on par with other countries where workers have better protection. And most importantly, the legislation will provide higher living standards for working people and secure the incomes needed to build decent lives.”
“Good employers will also welcome these changes; the Act protects them from competitors whose business models are based on low-paid, precarious employment.”
The Conservatives, meanwhile, criticized the law, saying it “caused bureaucracy” and would “destroy jobs rather than protect them”.
Shadow Business and Trade Minister Andrew Griffith MP said: “While we support hard-working families and parental leave rights, the 330-page Employment Rights Bill goes far beyond protecting parents.
“It creates backlogs of red tape, takes Britain back to the 1970s and risks dragging thousands of small businesses into costly employment tribunals.
“The impact is already clear; new surveys show employers are halting recruitment due to Labor’s preferences, creating uncertainty and higher costs.
“This is an Unemployment Bill that will destroy jobs, not protect them. Labor is damaging growth by opening the door to widespread strikes and giving unions more control over workplaces. Only the Conservatives will get Britain working again.”
