Nursery World - Extension to leave is welcomed

Family rights organisations have welcomed Government proposals to extend maternity and paternity leave entitlements if Labour wins a third term of office. The plans, outlined by trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt last week, are not expected to come into effect before 2006. They include a proposal that mothers should get some or all of the second six months of maternity leave paid and that fathers should receive a minimum of 90 per cent of their earnings during their two-week paid paternity leave entitlement. Currently fathers receive 102 a week.

The plans, outlined by trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt last week, are not expected to come into effect before 2006. They include a proposal that mothers should get some or all of the second six months of maternity leave paid and that fathers should receive a minimum of 90 per cent of their earnings during their two-week paid paternity leave entitlement. Currently fathers receive 102 a week.

The Maternity Alliance called the proposals 'a huge boost for working families'. Director Liz Kendall said, 'Too many parents, particularly mothers, currently feel forced to return to work before they're ready because they can't afford to take unpaid leave. A year's paid leave will give them more choice about how to balance work and family responsibilities when their children are very young.'

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