Jardine calls for doubling of maternity pay

Liberal Democrat women and equalities spokesperson Christine Jardine MP has called for the UK Government to do everything possible to tackle economic barriers for women, including by doubling statutory maternity pay and expanding parental leave.

As well as backing parental leave as a day-one right at work, Liberal Democrats are calling on the UK Government to:

• Double Statutory Maternity Pay to £350 a week.
• Increase paternity pay to 90% of earnings.
• Create a new use-it-or-lose-it ‘dad month’, encouraging more fathers to take parental leave.

Currently, low rates of statutory maternity and paternity pay are not high enough to give parents a real choice, while the UK’s two weeks of statutory paternity leave lags far behind most advanced economies. Around a quarter of fathers are not eligible for paternity pay, either because they are self-employed or because they have not been with their employer continuously for six months.

The party argues that encouraging more fathers to take parental leave is critical to closing the gender pay gap. On average, women face a ‘pay penalty’ of 45% lower earnings in the six years after giving birth to their first child.

Ms Jardine said:

“As we celebrate the achievements of women and girls across Scotland, we cannot forget about the barriers that stand in the way of progress.

“That’s why my party is committed to doubling maternity pay and expanding parental leave.

“Doubling maternity pay would help ease the pressure on women to return to work before they are ready.

“Meanwhile, encouraging more fathers to take paternity leave will give women greater choice and help new dads to spend time with their child.

“Liberal Democrats want to see women given the choice and flexibility they need, backed up by a proper package of support.”