Do more for working parents, says Equal Opportunities Commission

Seven pressure groups led by the Equal Opportunities Commission have sent an open letter to Trade and Industry Secretary Stephen Byers calling for urgent changes on parental and maternity leave.

The letter, sent this week, comes ahead of the Government’s green paper proposals on maternity leave, expected to be released before Christmas.

The EOC has the backing of seven organisations including the TUC, the Maternity Alliance, The National Council for One Parent Families, Faterhs Direct and Parents at Work.

“Because of the rate of maternity pay, many women cannot afford to take as much maternity leave as they would like,” said chairwoman of the EOC Julie Mellor. “British fathers work the longest hours in Europe, and most cannot afford to take any maternity leave. These issues need to be addressed.”

www.eoc.org.uk

by Paul Nelson

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