EU - Says Britain must extend parental leave to 13 weeks

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ET

Britain must extend leave for parents
By Sarah Womack, Political Correspondent

THE Government was forced into a climbdown yesterday after the EU ruled that every parent in Britain with a child under five must have the right to 13 weeks of unpaid time off work.

As a result, ministers are having to rewrite laws on parental leave, which at present only allow employees with children born after Dec 15, 1999, to take the time off. The legal change followed a challenge brought by Cherie Blair, acting on behalf of the TUC, against Stephen Byers, the Trade Secretary.

Under the new legislation, which will benefit an extra 2.8 million parents, one month can be taken off work every year, up to the child's fifth birthday. Parents of disabled children will be able to take 18 weeks leave from work up to their child's 18th birthday, five weeks more than originally proposed.

Employers can ask for leave to be delayed if it coincides with a particularly busy period. However, the announcement invoked the wrath of British business which said it would cost up to £20 million and could send many firms to the wall.

Business leaders said that, although leave was unpaid, the costs incurred by companies having to find temporary cover would cripple many. Digby Jones, head of the CBI, said: "The cumulative effect of new employment rights is making some smaller firms wonder whether it is really worth employing more people."

The decision would only stiffen employers' resolve to fight proposals to give working parents a legal right to work part-time. Ruth Lea, head of policy at the Institute of Directors, said it was becoming more difficult for firms to cope with absences, including parental and maternity leave. "It is the cumulative effect of all these rights which is worrying."

A delegate at the institute's annual convention in London said: "I am beginning to wonder when my staff will ever be present because of all the new rights they have to be absent." But John Monks, TUC general secretary, was jubilant. "This is a climbdown by the Government and a victory for the TUC and Britain's working parents."

Mr Byers said: "This new leave will make a real difference to thousands of families with children suffering from a disability who need more time and greater flexibility to deal with the considerable pressures they face." Earlier this month Anna Diamantopoulou, the EU employment commissioner, said Britain would have to fall into line or face action from the European Court next Thursday.

-- Anonymous, April 25, 2001


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