On a visit to Scotland, the party's Deputy Leader has set out how her
transformative New Deal for Working People will help workers
balance family and work.
As it stands, workers have to be continuously employed for 26
weeks before they are entitled to parental leave.
Labour has pledged to make parental leave a day one right for
workers, and to conduct a full review of the parental leave
system to ensure it best supports working families. More widely,
Labour is committed to make flexible working the default from day
one for all workers, including opportunities for flexi-time
contracts and hours that better accommodate school terms.
A recent survey has found that 1 in 5 dads reported that no
parental leave options were available to them following the birth
or adoption of their child.
Commenting, Labour Party Deputy Leader said:
“The parental leave system has broken and is no longer fit for
purpose.
“Under the Tories and the SNP, too many dads are put in the
impossible position of having to choose between spending precious
time with their new families and having to return to work to keep
the lights on and a roof over their heads.
“This is bad for children, bad for parents and bad for our
economy, with too many parents unable to get on, succeed and
thrive at work.
“Labour would review the parental leave system so that it best
supports working families within the first year of a Labour
government. And as part of our mission to reduce the impact of
parental income on a child's opportunities, we will ensure that
parental leave is a day one right.”
Scottish Labour leader said “For 14
years the Tories have failed workers in Scotland, letting pay
stall and attacking their hard-won rights.
“It's time for change – and Labour's New Deal for Working People
will deliver the greatest transfer of power to working people in
a generation.
“Labour will make parental leave a day one right, so new dads
aren't forced to choose between spending time with their child
and putting food on the table.
“This Fathers' Day, the best gift on offer is a Labour government
that will help parents to balance family and work.
“On the 4th of July Scotland can make sure we kick out this
rotten Tory government, strengthen workers' rights and deliver
the change that Scotland needs.”
ENDS
Notes
A condition of accessing parental leave is to have been
continuously employed by your employer for at least 26 weeks up
to any day in the ‘qualifying week': https://www.gov.uk/paternity-pay-leave/eligibility
“new survey data reveals that for 1 in 5 (20%) dads, no parental
leave options were available to them following the birth or
adoption of their child”:
https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/boosting-paternity-leave-has-economic-benefits/
