New report proposes an extension to paid parental leave

A new document to be published by the children’s minister will advise that fathers should be allowed share a year of paid parental leave with mothers.

 

The latest research found that less well-off working mothers were more likely to return to work after the six months of paid maternity leave were over. Currently mothers are entitled to an extra three-and-a-half months of unpaid leave after these six.

 

The strategy document will propose that families should be allowed to choose which parent takes the remaining months off work after the initial six-month period.

 

Unicef has recommended that one year should be the minimum standard for paid parental leave.

 

What do you think? Should parental leave be extended? Is it a good idea to allow parents to share it?