Parents who suffer a pregnancy loss in the first 23 weeks are one step closer to receiving paid miscarriage leave. MPs held a debate initiated by Angela Crawley MP (Lanark and Hamilton East, Scottish National Party) yesterday.
Currently only a handful of countries in the world offer paid miscarriage leave, including New Zealand, Australia, India and the Philippines. Using New Zealand as a blueprint, Ms Crawley wants women who miscarry, at any stage of pregnancy, to be entitled to three days' paid leave.
Speaking during the debate on paid miscarriage leave, Ms Crawley said: "Comprehensive policies of paid miscarriage leave have been introduced in nations such as New Zealand and Australia. Just last month the Northern Irish Assembly legislated to introduce paid miscarriage leave, making it the first place in Europe to do so.
“A UK-wide policy of paid miscarriage leave would ensure parents receive the support they deserve during that tragic time and that no-one falls through the cracks of the existing system. I do not believe that the current legislation gives enough support to women and their partners through the experience of pregnancy loss in the workplace.
"The government continues to insist that sick pay or annual leave are acceptable provisions for those who experience miscarriage. They are not.
"Grief is not a holiday, it’s not an illness. This is more than changing policy, it is about changing workplace culture in the UK."
Allan Dorans MP (Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock, Scottish National Party) said: “Whilst this bill asks initially for three days’ paid leave, it is hoped that the government will recognise the benefits. Not only to the couples and families involved, but also society in general and may in due course consider extending the three days’ leave further.”
Justin Madders MP (Ellesmere Port and Neston, Labour) said: “Loss is loss, whether it is week 12, week 18 or week 24 of a pregnancy and the need to grieve will still be there. We all know that statutory sick pay in this country is woeful, it is amongst the worst rates in Europe."
After Paul Scully MP (Sutton and Cheam, Conservative) spoke about the benefits of flexible working, a stunned Justin Madders asked: “I just want to clarify. Are you seriously suggesting that someone who’s had a miscarriage should make a flexible working application which can take weeks or months to resolve?”
A defiant Mr Scully responded: "I am saying that it is one of the tools for employers to value their people, which is why we want to ensure that we can have a tailored response to people’s life events."
Ms Crawley's motion to push the Government for legislation on the issue was passed. Employers currently have no obligation to grant someone paid leave if they or their partner suffers a pregnancy loss in the first 23 weeks.
Existing legislation doesn’t serve all parents, depriving some of the right to grieve a loss in the first 23 weeks of pregnancy. One in four pregnancies ends in miscarriage.
For more information and advice about miscarriages visit Tommy’s, a charity which advocates for and supports those who have lost babies.
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