Parental leave proposals 'are problematic'
Mar 31 2009
The Equality and Human Rights Commission's Working Better report contains proposals which are 'unaffordable', an industry body claims.
Commenting on the recent study, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) says that suggestions to increase the amount of parental leave and pay are unrealistic in the strained economic climate.
Proposals in the report recommend a three-step approach which aims to reduce the gender pay-gap, provide greater support to parents and children and introduce more modern working practices.
Among the plans are more paid leave for fathers, time off work which parents can share between them and an increase in maternity and paternity pay to boost uptake.
The commission reveals that the initiative would cost an extra £5.26 billion over the UK's current £2.07 billion spend on parental leave policies.
However, Katja Hall, CBI director of human resources policy, says: 'These plans, which would cost taxpayers an extra £5.3 billion, are unaffordable. It makes far more sense to focus on encouraging flexible working, which is open to both parents but does not materially increase costs for business and the taxpayer.'
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