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Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Fed-up fathers join world's first ‘Dad Strike' demanding better UK paternity leave
Families across the UK are campaigning for better paternity leave Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) DOZENS of fed-up dads yesterday joined forces outside the Scottish Parliament to demand for better paternity leave. It was the world's first "Dad Strike", with families protesting outside Holyrood and Westminster. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 The Dad Shift paternal leave policy change in the UK Credit: ELeanor Pugsley The UK's statutory paternity leave is the worst in Europe. Currently, fathers and second parents get up to two weeks off work at less than half the minimum wage - £187.18 a week. Statutory leave is not given to self-employed fathers or those earning less than £123 a week. The campaign group behind the strike, the Dad Shift, wants better paternity leave in the UK, arguing 'two weeks isn't enough'. It has already gotten the support of over 40 Labour MPs. Greg Borthwick, a father of two, works for Dads Rock - a Scottish charity that provides support for dads. He said: 'Two weeks isn't enough. "We've known it's not been enough for so long now. It's better for dads, it's better for mums, it's better for everyone.' 4 Dads Rock's Greg Borthwick and toddler at the protest Credit: Eleanor Pugsley Standing at his feet is his second child, a young toddler, holding a picket sign that is the same size as her. 'I made use of the Shared Parental Leave policy. I had to take out a loan to afford to do that for three months, to spend time with my kid.' 'My wife had to go back to work during that period. It took time with the kids away from her. Mums issue stark warning about 'dark Peppa Pig' videos going viral on YouTube set out to target and terrify your kids 'We shouldn't have to share our parental leave. We should have our own.' The Shared Parental Leave policy allows parents to split 50 weeks of maternity leave between them. The Dad Shift campaign wants paternity leave that is substantial, affordable and equal. It believes both parents should have equal leave, paid at an affordable rate, with enough time for dads to support their partner and bond with their kids. It wasn't just fathers at the picket line, mothers were holding their banners and chanting - louder than some of the dads. 4 'It is mothers that pay the price" Credit: Eleanor Pugsley 'At the end of the day, the parental leave system is abysmal,' said a representative from the Pregnant Then Screwed charity. They added: 'It is mothers that pay the price when there isn't enough paternity leave. 'Two weeks isn't even enough time for someone to recover from a cesarean.' Kevin Kane, CEO of Shared Parenting Scotland - which helps couples going through separation or divorce, was also on the picket line. Parental leave is a 'common theme' on their helpline according to Mr Kane. He said: 'Scotland is falling behind, the UK is falling behind. 'Most people want to pull together to support the child. If they aren't able to do that, they get frustrated. That's a fault of the system. 'If we can get a more equitable distribution of the load of parenting at an early stage of a child's life, then we can make progress towards shared parenting being more normalised in Scotland.' 'For mums and dads and children, I want them to have the same opportunity to look after their children. There are models for that around the world.' In France working dads get 28 days of paid parental leave. While in Sweden, fathers are entitled to 90 days of paid time off work and spanish dads can get 16 weeks of full time leave. 4 Parental leave is a 'common theme' on Scottish helpines Credit: Eleanor Pugsley A report published this week by the Women and Equalities Committee said paternity leave rules 'entrench outdated gender stereotypes' and were 'completely out of kilter with the cost of living'. The cross-party group of MPs has urged the government to consider increasing paternity pay to 90% or more and leave to six weeks. Labour previously said they will review paternity leave within their first year in office.
The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Campaigners protest outside Holyrood demanding better paternity leave
'The Dad Strike', organised jointly by charities The Dad Shift and Scottish-based Dads Rock, is calling for the UK to bring its paternal leave laws in line with comparable countries. It comes after a parliamentary report published yesterday called the UK's paternal leave system 'one of the worst in the developed world'. Under the current system, fathers are entitled to two weeks of paid leave, with those eligible receiving £187.18 a week or 90% of their average earnings, whichever is lower. Thomas Lynch, chief executive of Dads Rock, said there is 'a huge disparity' in how people can access paternal leave in the UK. READ MORE: SNP minister responds to 'secret meeting to discuss John Swinney leadership' reports 'There's a whole range of families who are getting next to nothing [in paternal leave] and we know that ultimately that's not good for the child, relationships, or mental health,' he said. Lynch added: 'We believe that small change could make a huge amount of difference to families and get them on the right foot to begin with as opposed to the pressure that you feel at the moment to return to work or to go back to work.' (Image: NQ) Attending the protest with his baby daughter was César, from Spain. The country boasts one of the most impressive paternity leave systems, where all parents are guaranteed sixteen weeks of uninterrupted, full-paid leave. He has lived in Scotland for ten years and had to go through the UK's parental leave system when his daughter was born. Comparing his experience with that of friends and family in Spain, he found the UK system 'unfair'. César said: 'My wife had a C-section. That's a major intervention and the recovery time is six weeks.' 'After two weeks, I had to go back to work for five days. Everything after that was covered by my holiday allowance. Our extended family are in Spain, so it gets really difficult.' Also present at the protest was Scottish Greens MSP Mark Ruskell, who called the current system 'completely unsustainable'. 'It's not just unfair on dads but on their partners as well. It is really outdated, and we need to be extending paternal leave to way beyond two weeks.' While the matter of paternal leave can ultimately only be changed by Westminster, Ruskell believed the Scottish government could 'set a positive example' by changing paternity leave rules for employees in bodies such as the Scottish Parliament, where Ruskell says he has been asking for better paternity leave for his parliamentary staff. (Image: NQ) The UK government is carrying out a review, which is due before mid-July, and would look at all current parental leave entitlements. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: 'While employment legislation - including maternity and paternity rights - is reserved to the UK Parliament, the Scottish Government continue to champion and support fair work practices. 'Scottish Ministers have called on the UK Government to enhance current paternal leave and pay provision as part of its wider Make Work Pay reforms and will continue to do so as the relevant legislation is developed.'
