Published ahead of Mother’s Day on Sunday (26 March), it ranks the UK 22nd out of 24 European countries that offer statutory maternity leave for its maternity pay package.
The TUC analysis, which is based on research by the Leave Network - an international group that analysis and researches leave policies, claims that mothers in the UK receieve just six weeks of 'decently-paid' maternity leave, while most European countries offer three months or more.
'Decently-paid’ leave is considered as time off paid at two-thirds of women’s pre-maternity leave earnings or more, or a rate of pay greater than £840 per month.
In the UK, mothers are entitled to 52 weeks maternity leave and 39 weeks Statutory Maternity Pay. The first six weeks of leave at paid at 90 per cent of a woman's average weekly earnings (AWE) before tax. The remaining 33 weeks are paid at £139.58 or 90 per cent of a women's AWE, whichever is lower.
However, women who earn under £112 a week are not eligible for SMP, but may instead be able to claim Maternity Allowance. The amount women get under Maternity Allowance depends on their eligibility.
According to the analysis, the only European countries offering less maternity pay than the UK, which the TUC says has a relatively generous period of maternity leave, but isn’t decently-paid for long, are Ireland and Slovakia, where mothers do not get any ‘decently-paid’ time off.
At the top of the table is Croatia, which offers six months ‘decently-paid’ leave.
In Poland, Hungary and the Czech Republic mothers get more than four months ‘decently-paid’ leave, while Estonia, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, France, Malta and Switzerland offer more than three months.
Frances O’Grady, TUC general secretary, said, ‘The UK is in the relegation zone when it comes to decently-paid maternity leave.
‘Many Europeans countries offer decent support to new mums. But lots of parents here are forced back to work early to pay the bills.
‘My advice to all new mums is to join a union. It is the best way to improve your pay and conditions.’
The TUC is now calling on the Government to increase statutory maternity pay (SMP) and Maternity Allowance to the same level as the minimum wage so mothers aren’t forced to go back to work before they are ready.
It also wants shared parental pay and paternity pay increased to the same level as the minimum wage. Currently new fathers, not including those who are self-employed, are entitled to one-two weeks of paternity leave paid at £139.58 or 90 per cent of a man's average weekly earnings.
The TUC says it believes lack of money shouldn’t be the main factor in making decisions about who looks after a new baby.
Other calls include:
- Helping self-employed mothers by paying maternity allowance at an equivalent rate for the first six-weeks as earning related rates for SMP.
- Making shared parental leave (SPL) more flexible.
A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said, 'The truth is the UK’s maternity system is one of the most generous in the world, and most mothers can take up to 39 weeks of guaranteed pay. This is nearly three times the EU minimum requirement of 14 weeks.'
