Lancaster MP welcomes stronger parental leave rights to give working families the 'security they deserve'

Millions of workers who were previously denied time off for the birth of their child will become eligible for new day one rights to parental leave from April, through measures being laid in Parliament on Monday.

The changes, which stem from Labour's recently passed Employment Rights Act, will see parents no longer be forced to make the heart-wrenching choice between being there for the first weeks of their child’s life or going back to work to avoid losing their job.

Labour has delivered these once-in-a-generation improvements to workers' rights despite opposition from the Tories and Reform, who tried to block the Employment Rights Bill.

As a result of the Government's action, an additional 32,000 more dads per year will be able to access paternity leave immediately, as a mother would with maternity leave.

This comes as the Government continues its Parental Leave and Pay Review, which will assess the whole system – from maternity and paternity leave to shared parental leave – to see how it can work better for parents and employers.

Around 390,000 people are estimated to be out of work due to caring responsibilities but want a job, including parents.

The reforms to parental leave include the right to take unpaid parental leave from the first day in a new job, giving a further 1.5m parents more flexibility to share caring responsibilities.

If even 1% of those out of work were able to take up a part-time job as a result of this move, it could boost economic output by around £150m a year.

Ms Smith said: “Across Lancaster and Wyre, I've spoken to countless parents who've told me how vital proper parental leave is for giving their families the security and time they need in those crucial early months.

"These improved workers' rights mean local families can focus on their newborns without financial worry, helping children thrive and strengthening our whole community.

"This is exactly the kind of support Lancaster and Wyre needs and deserves, and it's part of the real change working people will feel this year as Britain turns the corner after years of decline.”

A new bereaved partner’s paternity leave will also be introduced from April, providing up to 52 weeks of leave for fathers and partners who lose their partner before their child’s first birthday.

This fixes the previous system where bereaved partners had to rely on the compassion of an employer in order to be granted time off to grieve and care for their child.

The government is also bringing in changes to up to 1.3m additional workers in lower-paid or part-time roles are able to access statutory sick pay (SSP) and make sure everyone can access it from the first day of illness.

This is a substantial shift from the former three-day wait for SSP to kick in, which left people working whilst ill, putting them at risk of increased long-term sickness.