Labour urged to improve parental leave to support families
The Scottish Greens are urging the UK Labour Government to give the gift of better parental leave this Father’s Day.
The UK trails behind other European countries in terms of maternity, paternity and parental pay and leave.
Currently, dads and non-birthing parents are only entitled to two week’s leave on statutory paternity pay as standard. This means that the first payday with a newborn baby will leave wallets lighter than usual if they opt to take any leave at all.
The Scottish Greens want to see paternity leave extended and paid fairly to give new parents the chance to be present in their newborn's life and support their partners during their most vulnerable period of postpartum, without a loss of pay.
Party Co-leader Gillian Mackay said:
“The first few weeks with a newborn should be a time for parents to soak up every moment, not worry about how bills will be paid if Dad takes the time he’s entitled to off work.
“In some cases where hospital stays take longer than usual, some new Dads are hardly getting any time to spend supporting their partner and new baby.
“For those who do manage to get home quickly, two weeks just isn't enough time to transition into a new routine with a growing family, or enough on-hand support for mums who are recovering from childbirth.
“Not everybody wants to have children, but for those who do, they do so because they want to spend time with them and be present from day one.
"When household bills are rising, it’s crucial that we support new parents and babies, rather than penalising them with low pay and extremely limited time off.
“The UK Government should give Dads across our country a great gift this Father’s Day. By expanding parental leave and increasing support for parents, they can set families up for success and give the future generation the best start in life.”