The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) have confirmed that an increase in parental leave from 3 to 4 months will be implemented in March 2013, rather than this year.
The EU Council of Ministers adopted a new Parental Leave Directive in March 2010 to increase parental leave entitlement from three to four months. EU member states have two years to implement the Directive into national law but Article 3(2) of the Directive allows member states an additional period of one year to implement it if necessary to take account of particular difficulties.
BIS has confirmed that it intends to take advantage of the additional year because of the thorough review of parental leave undertaken as part of the Consultation on Modern Workplaces, to which the Government is yet to respond.
For more information, please contact Gareth Edwards on 0117 314 5220.
This publication is for guidance only. Reliance should not be placed upon it and nor should action be taken, without obtaining advice in respect of the specific circumstances applicable. We will be pleased to provide such advice or assistance.
