Parents and unpaid carers are set to receive new employment protections, as three government-backed Private Members Bills have received royal assent. When in force, these new laws will help to increase workforce participation, protect vulnerable workers and level the playing field by ensuring unscrupulous businesses don’t have a competitive advantage.

Parents and carers will benefit from the following new protections once in force:

• Up to 12 weeks of paid neonatal care leave for employed parents whose children are admitted to neonatal care, so that they can spend more time with their baby at what is a hugely stressful time. This is in addition to other leave and pay entitlements such as maternity and paternity.
• Redundancy protection for pregnant women and new parents with the extension of existing redundancy protections to cover pregnancy and a period of time after parents return to work.
• A new entitlement for unpaid carers to a week of flexible unpaid leave a year, for employees who are caring for a dependant with a long-term care needs. This will enable carers to better balance their caring and work responsibilities, supporting them to remain in employment.

Business Minister Kevin Hollinrake said:

“We know how stressful it can be for parents caring for a new-born in neonatal care, or someone who is trying to juggle work with caring responsibilities, and these additional protections will ensure they get the support they need. Over the past year, we have proven our commitment to supporting workers across the UK, including raising the National Living Wage to its highest yet. Protecting and enhancing workers’ rights whilst supporting businesses to grow remains a priority for this government and a dynamic labour helps to drive up wages, employment and economic growth.”

The government-backed bills will boost support to vulnerable workers, and to parents during difficult times. Up to 12 weeks of paid leave provided by the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act makes the UK a world leader in this area, allowing parents to be with their babies instead of worrying about work.

Research from the Equality and Human Rights Commission showed that approximately one in nine mothers were either dismissed, made compulsorily redundant or treated so poorly they felt they had to leave their job. The Protection from Redundancy Act will extend existing protections to protect pregnant women and new parents against this discriminatory practice.

Charities have been calling for further support for carers. There are millions of unpaid carers in the UK, and the Carer’s Leave Act will provide the support they need to continue with their invaluable contribution to society. Once in force, they won’t have to struggle between caring for the ones they love and working to provide for their families.

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The new laws receiving royal assent were:

• The Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act, introduced by Stuart C. McDonald MP, will allow eligible employed parents whose new-born baby is admitted to neonatal care to take up to 12 weeks of paid leave, in addition to other leave entitlements such as maternity and paternity leave.
• The Protection from Redundancy (Pregnancy and Family Leave) Act, introduced by Dan Jarvis MP, will allow the extension of existing redundancy protections whilst on Maternity Leave, Adoption Leave or Shared Parental Leave to also cover pregnancy and a period of time after a new parent has returned to work.
• The Carer’s Leave Act, introduced by Wendy Chamberlain MP, will create a new statutory unpaid leave entitlement for employees who are caring for a dependant with a long-term care need.

The government will lay down secondary legislation in due course to implement these new entitlements.