Paternity depart in UK is out of date and unequal, say MPs

The UK’s statutory parental depart gadget is “one of the worst in the developed world” and has “fundamental flaws”, a bunch of cross-party MPs has stated.

A file printed these days by means of the Women and Equalities Committee stated paternity depart laws “entrench outdated gender stereotypes”.

It added that “bold” motion is wanted, however warned any adjustments will require vital funding.

A Department for Business and Trade spokesperson stated the federal government is sporting out a evaluate to peer the way it easiest can strengthen operating households.

Introduced in 2003, statutory paternity depart lets in maximum new fathers and 2nd oldsters in the United Kingdom to take as much as two weeks off paintings.

It applies to all companions, irrespective of gender, after the start, surrogacy or adoption of a child.

Those eligible obtain £187.18 per week or 90% in their reasonable income, whichever is decrease.

This works out as not up to 50% of the National Living Wage and fathers are ineligible for statutory paternity depart if they’re self-employed or earn not up to £123 per week.

The file says that is “completely out of kilter with the cost of living” and suggests the federal government will have to believe expanding paternity pay to 90% or extra and paternity depart to 6 weeks in a phased method.

It recommends each sides will have to be performed right through this Parliament.

Highlighting how paternity depart has now not modified noticeably since its creation greater than 20 years in the past, the file says: “We now have one of the worst statutory leave offers for fathers and other parents in the developed world.”

In Spain, new dads can take 16 weeks off paintings at complete pay.

New laws presented in France in 2021 imply operating dads can now spend 28 days at house whilst being paid.

Families in Sweden are entitled to 480 days of paid parental depart, with 90 days reserved for fathers.

As a part of Your Voice, Your BBC News we’re overlaying the tales that subject maximum to you and a number of other dads had been involved about paternity depart.

James Yeates, from Haverhill, Suffolk, says it was once “horrible” having to go back to paintings simply two weeks after his son, Luca, was once born in September 2024.

Although he says the start of his son was once “the happiest moment of my life”, he quickly felt as despite the fact that he was once leaving his spouse “in the lurch”.

“There would be times when my partner was struggling and I’d have to leave to go to work,” he stated.

“I felt like I was letting her down and letting my son down.”

James works for the NHS, who crowned up his statutory paternity pay to 100% of his standard wage, however feels as despite the fact that he was once averted from being “a more present parent”.

The WEC file additionally checked out shared parental depart, which was once presented in 2014 and lets in oldsters to proportion as much as 50 weeks of depart and as much as 37 weeks of pay after the start or adoption of a kid.

But the evaluate discovered many households thought to be it “unnecessarily complex” and “burdensome”.

It is utilized in fewer than 2% of all births and a central authority evaluate from 2023 suggests virtually part (45%) of all dads weren’t even mindful shared parental depart was once an possibility.

The file has been launched at the eve of the sector’s first dad strike.

Hundreds of fathers are anticipated to wood outdoor the Department for Business and Trade in London on Wednesday to name for an overhaul of the United Kingdom’s parental depart insurance policies.

New analysis by means of The Dad Shift and Shaun Davies MP means that simply 3% of cash spent on parental depart in the United Kingdom helps fathers and non-birthing oldsters.

Information supplied by means of employers to HMRC presentations that £3.3bn was once spent on statutory maternity pay in 2023/24.

Across the similar length, £69m was once spent on paternity pay and £34.4m statutory shared parental pay.

George Gabriel, co-founder of the Dad Shift, stated paternity depart rules imply dads frequently have to return to paintings ahead of their two-week paternity depart ends.

“The pie is small and the crumbs left for dads and non-birthing parents are honestly pretty pitiful,” he stated.

Kathy Jones, leader government of the Fatherhood Institute, stated she welcomed most of the findings of the file, however stated “families shouldn’t have to wait until the next Parliament for this to come in”.

The govt stated its drawing close evaluate, which is due ahead of mid-July, would have a look at all present parental depart entitlements.

A spokesperson added it’s already within the means of making sure dads now not wish to be hired for 26 weeks to be entitled to paternity depart.

“This government is committed to making sure parents receive the best possible support to balance their work and home lives,” they stated.

Additional reporting from George Walker.