Six-months’ leave for dads
GORDON Brown will today unveil plans that will enable fathers to take six months paternity leave instead of the existing two weeks, in a move that will push up employment costs for businesses.
Brown will unveil a new system of switching between paternity and maternity leave, which will allow a mother to pass over her rights to paid leave to her child’s father after six months.
The switching rights will allow fathers to take the remaining six months as paternity leave. Three months will be paid leave and three months will be unpaid.
The measure, which is sure to garner widespread support from trade unions, will be announced in a speech to the Trades Unions Congress today.
Labour is trying to emphasise its family-friendly credentials in the run up to the election.