SNP MP Angela Crawley has renewed her call for the UK Government to change the law to ensure those who experience a miscarriage are given at least three days paid leave, in an intervention to mark Baby Loss Awareness Week.
Currently, a person who suffers a miscarriage after 24 weeks is entitled to two weeks paid leave. The MP for Lanark and Hamilton East introduced a bill to the House of Commons in June to make provision for paid leave for people who have experienced miscarriage at any stage of pregnancy.
This year’s SNP manifesto said the party will bring in a new Women’s Health Plan that will “establish a dignified, compassionate miscarriage service, tailored to the needs of women” and emulate New Zealand where families who experience miscarriage or stillbirth are entitled to three days of paid leave.
The Scottish Government has the power to do this in the public sector but to expand it to the private sector, the UK Government must change employment law, which is reserved.
Crawley said: “I am urging MPs from all parties to back my bill to bring us one step closer to ensuring parents get time to grieve and process a miscarriage, without
worrying about their finances and employment.
“Under current rules, the only way parents can get this time off is by requesting compassionate leave – which may or may not be granted – or take annual or unpaid leave. This is so unfair.
“The loss of a baby at any stage of a pregnancy can be traumatic and parents need adequate time to grieve. That is why I – along with other MPs from across the House – am urging Boris Johnson to follow in New Zealand’s footsteps and bring in three days of paid leave for anyone who has suffered a miscarriage.
“The Scottish Government are doing what they can with their limited powers in Scotland by making this change in the public sector but whilst employment law remains reserved to Westminster, only the Tory government has the power to do the right thing and make that change.
“But parents shouldn’t have to wait for Westminster to act. I hope the UK Government will back my bill and make this important change to the law – or, at the very least, devolve the powers to the Scottish Parliament so we can introduce it ourselves in Scotland.”
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