Shared parental leave plans a 'critical priority'

The development of proposals for shared parental leave is a "critical priority", the Committee for Employment and Social Security (ESS) has said.

Currently, there is no provision for statutory shared parental leave, but partners of new mothers are entitled to two weeks unpaid maternity support leave.

In a committee update, ESS President Tina Bury said the island was "so far behind" other places on the issue. She added: "We are able to see what has been implemented elsewhere, how it's been improved elsewhere, and we can now benefit from that."

Other critical priorities for the committee listed by Bury included long-term care, changes to social security and identifying savings opportunities.

In the UK, new parents are entitled to share 50 weeks paid parental leave.

Last year, Bury previously listed the issue as a "high priority" for the committee.

President of Policy and Resources Lindsay de Sausmarez asked ESS to consider non-transferable leave, meaning each parent would have a set amount of leave, none of which can be swapped or given to the other.

She said: "That element in particular is very, very effective in improving fathers' participation in raising their children, which has much wider benefits."

Bury responded: "We are open to exploring all opportunities."

"We want to choose what is most appropriate for Guernsey and what works best for the aims we are trying to achieve."

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