Originally published in January 2002
The Employment Bill published on 7 November 2001 incorporates wide ranging provisions to improve the position of parents in the workplace. The bill follows a review of maternity and parental rights in the summer of 2000 and promotes the Government’s manifesto commitment to "help parents devote more time to their children early in life".
Maternity Leave and Pay
In May 2001 it was announced that OML would be increased to 26 weeks, followed by 26 weeks AML, giving mothers up to one year’s maternity leave. The new bill provides for maternity pay to be extended to 26 weeks, ie the first six months of leave. For the first six weeks of leave, maternity pay will be 90% of the mother’s average weekly earnings, and for the remaining 20 weeks it will be paid at the standard rate. The final six months of maternity will be unpaid.
