Jersey 'lagging behind rest of Europe' on parental leave

Saturday 30 December 2017

Reform Jersey members are asking the States to adopt recommendations to increase parental leave to stop the island lagging "behind the rest of Europe".

The recommendations came from the Employment Forum, who want to increase statutory maternity leave to 26 weeks, with six weeks at full pay, from September 2018 and to 52 weeks from September 2019.

They also made recommendations to improve the right to time off for ante-natal appointments and adoption leave.

Reform Jersey's Vice-Chairman, Deputy Geoff Southern, has now put forward a proposal in a bid to get the States to accept the Employment Forum's suggestions. In addition to these, the party is also asking the States to improve the Maternity Allowance currently offered by Social Security by introducing a 100% disregard for income from Maternity Allowance for mothers.

Deputy Sam Mézec, Chairman of Reform Jersey, commented: “Jersey has lagged behind the rest of Europe in our parental leave provisions. Reform Jersey has brought several propositions over recent years to extend it to 26 weeks, but has been voted down by the Council of Ministers each time. Now, with the recommendations made by the Employment Forum, we believe that the States should make this necessary progress to provide peace of mind to Islanders that they can choose to have a family without having to damage their careers.”

Pictured: Reform Jersey's Chairman, Deputy Sam Mézec. (John Liot)

Deputy Mézec said the proposition was prompted by a declaration by the Social Security Minister, Deputy Susie Panel, that she may not accept all of the Employment Forum recommendations when bringing forward her own proposals. Through the proposition, the recommendations will be subject to a vote by the whole States Assembly "rather than one Minister with a history of opposing maternity leave", Reform Jersey's Chairman said.

He added: "We are also going further than the Employment Forum by proposing that the Maternity Allowance is increased to make sure that the improved maternity leave provisions can be enjoyed by all families and not just those who can afford it.”