Labour promises better deal for working parents
Labour has said that it would offer more help to working parents, with an increase in maternity leave.
Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt said today that Labour would offer mothers an extra three months’ paid maternity leave by 2007, with the eventual goal being a year’s paid leave by the end of the next parliament. Fathers would also be allowed to take a proportion of the leave.
The Government said it would also consult on a new right for parents of older children and carers to request flexible working.
But it insists that employers would also see benefits by gaining more certainty about when employees are returning to work and will consult on whether the Government should pay parents directly through the Inland Revenue, so as to reduce firms’ administration.
Although unions and women’s groups have welcomed the moves, employers are angry because they believe the proposals would damage business – especially small businesses.
Announcing the consultation, Ms Hewitt said: “Family and working life is changing. It’s no longer the case that dad works while mum stays at home. Today, often both parents have to work and greater flexibility is needed.
“Helping hard-working parents give their children the best start and give carers greater help is not only good for families but is good news for our economic growth and prosperity.”
She said that offering greater workplace flexibility allows employers to attract and maintain good staff and create a committed working environment.
But the plans came in for heavy criticism from Ruth Lea, director of the Centre for Policy Studies.
Dr Lea told politics.co.uk that Ms Hewitt was “living in a never-never land” if she though small businesses could cope with the uncertainties that extending leave would cause.
She added that the plans would render employment contracts “meaningless” and other employees would feel “increasingly resentful” of what they see as time-off for parents.
And the Conservatives said that today’s consultation was just a “recycled announcement”.
Family spokesperson Theresa May said: “This is another classic case of re-announcement from the Labour Party spin machine. These plans were announced by Gordon Brown in his pre-budget review in December and Tony Blair is now recycling it in his desperate bid to win back women voters who have been let down by Labour.”
