New rights for fathers to take up to six months’ paternity leave, three of which will be paid at the same rate as statutory maternity leave, are due to be announced by the Government.
Coming into force from April 2011, the time off can be taken during the second half of a baby’s first year if the mother returns to the workplace. At the moment, mothers can take nine months paid maternity leave, and a further three months unpaid. The new scheme will mean that if mothers return to work after six months, fathers can take the following six months as paternity leave, half of which will be paid.
Gordon Brown said the plan was about “giving couples more freedom, dads more rights and children more time with the two people who love them most”.
Since April 2003, fathers have been entitled to take two weeks’ paid leave, but the Government has conceded that take-up is likely to be low, with less than one in 16 fathers expected to leave work for a period of full-time childcare.
Ministers tried to reassure small businesses that the impact will be minimal, with less than 1% expected to be affected by the changes. But the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) were reported by the Daily Telegraph to have expressed concern about the costs to business during the economic downturn.
One Trackback
Я считаю, что Вы не правы. Я уверен. Могу отстоять свою позицию. Пишите мне в PM, обсудим….
Coming into force from April 2011, the time off can be taken during the second half of a baby’s first year if […….