The Labour Party have committed in extending maternity and paternity leave in a green paper published earlier in the year. The commitment is hidden in a single paragraph on page 9 of a 14 page document (LINK) on employment rights.
The Lib Dems would double shared parental pay and increase leave. This was published in a policy statement called A Better Start in Life for Every Child, following their recent party conference (LINK)
The government published their plans in June this year following a 2019 consultation in a document called The Good Work Plan – Proposals to support Families (LINK). Their proposals concentrate on greater flexibility for employers and fathers.
Few fathers take up paternity leave at present, often due to the financial pressures of parenthood. Equal and fully funded parental leave, with a non-transferable, “use it or lose it” quota for dads, is key to encouraging men’s uptake and equal participation in caregiving; such an uptake would benefit all, children, dads and mums, the latter by helping their employability and reducing the domestic burden.
Whilst the above are steps in the right direction, none of the political parties are close to matching the generous leave arrangements in Finland (LINK).
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