Call for statutory leave for unpaid carers

Proposed legislation could benefit more than two million employees who have unpaid caring responsibilities. Unpaid carers could benefit from one week of statutory unpaid leave under a proposal expected to be heard by Parliament later this year.

Wendy Chamberlain, a Liberal Democrat MP, has said she intends to introduce a Private Members Bill that would give individuals with caring responsibilities the right to five unpaid days off per year. If successful, the Carers’ Leave Bill could benefit up to 2.34 million employees who are unpaid carers.

Currently, parents have a right to a total of 18 weeks’ unpaid parental leave for each child up to the age of 18. However there is no statutory right to any other unpaid leave to care for other dependants.

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