In parliament yesterday, Business Minister Justin Madders said the Government will work with MPs and peers to amend the Employment Rights Bill, noting that they fully accept the principle of bereavement leave for pregnancy loss.
The loss of a child after 24 weeks’ currently entitles parents to parental bereavement leave as well as statutory maternity and paternity leave. However, in stark contrast, there is no statutory bereavement leave for miscarriages occurring before this stage. Whilst companies are encouraged to offer compassionate leave, there is no legal obligation for them to do so.
The Bill was debated at Report Stage yesterday, in response to amendments that Labour MP Sarah Owen (Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC)) recommended to the law. Mr Madders said he was grateful to WEC for raising the important issue of miscarriage leave and stated; “Bereavement is not an illness, it is not a holiday, and it does need its own special category.” Owen highlighted that by introducing these regulations, the UK would become one of only four countries in the world that give those who experience pregnancy loss time to grieve.
The CEO of the Miscarriage Association, Vicki Robinson, said “We are extremely pleased to see, that for the first time ever, those experiencing pre-24-week pregnancy loss will be officially recognised in bereavement leave legislation. While we had been seeking paid leave, and the present commitment appears to be for unpaid leave, it nevertheless represents a significant step forward and provides long-overdue validation that this type of loss can be experienced as a bereavement like any other”.
The timing of the Employment Rights Bill coming into force is subject to parliamentary schedules, but it is expected to be next year.
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