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Epoch Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Epoch Times
Paternity Leave in UK One of Worst in Developed World, Committee Finds
The UK has 'one of the worst leave offers in the developed world for fathers,' according to a report by the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC). The WEC It also found that the UK's rate of statutory paternal pay is 'completely out of kilter with the cost of living' and has not kept pace with inflation. WEC Chairwoman and Labour MP Sarah Owen She said the system is 'in urgent need of an overhaul to fit with the reality of working parents' lives,' and that reform must start with longer and better paid paternity leave. The report came ahead of the government's review of paternal leave entitlement and as the Employment Rights Bill moves through the House of Lords. International Comparisons The committee examined evidence from other models for parental leave around the world, finding that Nordic countries in particular have far more generous paternal leave terms. Related Stories 6/9/2025 5/30/2025 Norway, for example, introduced four weeks of non-transferable leave and pay for fathers in 1993. Today, parental leave for mothers and fathers is paid at 100 percent of earnings for 46 weeks, or 56 weeks at 80 percent, both with an upper cap. Spain has transformed its system in recent years after starting in a similar place as the UK. The country introduced 13 days of paid paternity in 2007, and between 2017 and 2021, gradually increased this to 16 weeks, equal to maternity leave and paid at 100 percent of earnings. Spain also made six weeks of that leave compulsory for mothers and fathers. The WEC said they heard from experts who recommended that the UK should similarly consider making a period of paternity leave compulsory, 'as a way of shifting the culture and challenging gendered stereotypes around family responsibilities.' Day 1 Paternity Leave Rights The WEC has called on the government to draw on lessons from Spain's reform of paternal leave, and incrementally increase the period of paid leave for fathers to six weeks over the course of this Parliament. The committee also urged ministers to remove the requirement that men must be employed for at least 26 weeks before being entitled to paternity leave, saying it should be available from the first day of employment. Commuters on London Bridge on Jan. 22, 2024. Victoria Jones/PA Wire Lack of paternal leave provision for self-employed fathers was also deemed 'deeply unfair,' with MPs calling for the introduction of a paternity allowance, similar to maternity allowance for self-employed mothers. The report also highlighted the flaws of Shared Parental Leave (SPL), which allows for parents to share up to 50 weeks of leave, so one or both parents can decide when to take leave in a more flexible way. The committee said SPL was 'extremely difficult for most parents and their employers to understand,' and called for it to be simplified and made more financially attractive to boost uptake. Reform Needed The WEC chairwoman said, 'It's essential the Government's proposed review addresses the system's fundamental failings, including low statutory pay, inadequate leave periods for fathers and others, exclusion of many working parents and guardians, plus design flaws and unnecessary complexity in the Shared Parental Leave scheme.' Owen called on ministers to commit to meaningful reforms in the medium term, 'with a view to going further towards a more gender equal parental leave system.' She said: 'Tinkering around the edges of a broken system will let down working parents. While much-needed substantial change to our paid parental leave system will require considerable financial investment, this would be outweighed by wider societal and economic benefits.' Responding to the recommendations of the report, a government spokesperson told The Epoch Times: 'This government is committed to making sure parents receive the best possible support to balance their work and home lives as part of our Plan to Make Work Pay. 'We know the parental leave system needs to be improved and will be carrying out a review to ensure it best supports working families, and through our Employment Rights Bill we will remove the 26-week continuity of service requirement for paternity leave.' The government said that as part of its review, it will consider all current parental leave entitlements, including paternity leave and pay and the length of leave available to fathers.
Belfast Telegraph
28-05-2025
- Science
- Belfast Telegraph
Global temperatures likely to be above 1.5C threshold over next five years
Analysis finds the world is likely to exceed the 1.5C threshold again in next five years (Victoria Jones/PA) Global temperatures are likely to be more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels over the next five years, scientists have warned. After 2024's record temperatures broke – temporarily at least – the 1.5C threshold to which countries have agreed to limit global warming to avoid its most dangerous impacts, new climate predictions have found an 86% chance another year in the next five will do the same. And the analysis from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and the UK's Met Office finds a 70% chance that the five-year global temperature average will be more than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. There is an 80% chance that at least one year between 2025 and 2029 will set a new record for global temperatures, the analysis shows. And for the first time, climate models have shown there is a possibility that the world's global average temperature could exceed 2C above pre-industrial levels before 2030, although the scientists behind the analysis said it was 'exceptionally unlikely', with around only a 1% chance it could happen. The long-term predictions suggest enhanced rainfall in some of the next five years which could lead to flooding (Joe Giddens/PA) The scientists also warn that northern Europe could see some very wet winters over the next five years, which is one of the key climate hazards for the region, bringing with it the risk of flooding. In the global Paris climate treaty, countries committed to action to curb global warming well below 2C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to curb rises to 1.5C in a bid to avoid the worst impacts of rising sea levels, drought, floods, heatwaves and extreme storms brought on by climate change. The world's average temperature exceeded 1.5C above the 1850-1900 average for the first time in 2024 as an El Nino climate phenomenon in the tropical Pacific pushed up temperatures on top of human-caused global warming. The likelihood of the next five years being above 1.5C does not mean the threshold has been permanently breached, as the figures for long-term warming are averaged over 20 years. But the scientists suggested warming was now around 1.4C above pre-industrial levels, measured from a baseline of 1850-1900 before global large-scale burning of fossil fuels took off. And the Met Office's Professor Adam Scaife said 'these very latest predictions suggest we are very close now to having 1.5C years commonplace'. 'We've had one in 2024, but they're increasing in frequency and we are going to see more of these,' he said, pointing to the 86% chance of seeing another year reaching 1.5C above the 1850-1900 baseline in the next five years. 'These are shocking statistics and there is even a chance now, and it's the first time we've ever seen such an event in our computer predictions, of a 2C year, which would be completely unprecedented. 'That is still exceptionally unlikely, more like a 1% chance of seeing that over the coming five years, but it is now possible. 'That was effectively impossible just a few years ago.' The global annual to decadal climate update is issued annually by the WMO and is produced by the Met Office. It also finds that rain patterns for May to September 2025-2029 are expected to be wetter than the recent average for the Sahel, northern Europe, Alaska and northern Siberia and dry for the time of year over the Amazon. Arctic warming is predicted to continue exceeding the global average, with impacts on wildlife and communities in the region. WMO deputy secretary-general Ko Barrett said: 'We have just experienced the 10 warmest years on record. 'Unfortunately, this WMO report provides no sign of respite over the coming years, and this means that there will be a growing negative impact on our economies, our daily lives, our ecosystems and our planet.'
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
JD Wetherspoon sales rise as pub trade boosted by sunny weather
JD Wetherspoon is unlikely to fall foul of any US exporting taxes and serves a domestic customer base that has kept its interest despite inflationary pressures. · Victoria Jones, PA Images UK pub chain JD Wetherspoon (JDW.L) reported a rise in quarterly sales, with trading helped by sunny weather. Shares in the FTSE 250 (^FTMC) company were little changed shortly after the market open in London on Wednesday morning, despite the firm posting a 5.6% increase in like-for-like sales in the third quarter, compared to the same period last year. Total sales rose by 5% in the quarter, which the company said were slightly less than like-for-like sales as a result of a small number of pub disposals. "Bearing in mind that recent trading has been helped by favourable weather, the company anticipates a reasonable outcome for the financial year, notwithstanding previously reported wage and tax increases of approximately £1.2m per week," said Tim Martin, chairman of JD Wetherspoon, in a trading update on Wednesday. Martin had already warned of the impact of higher labour costs as a result of increases to employer national insurance contributions and the national minimum wage, which were announced in the autumn budget and came into effect in April. JD Wetherspoon opened two pubs and sold seven year-to-date, with plans to open a further four or five pubs this financial year and around 10 pubs in the following financial year. The company now operates 795 pubs, with an additional seven pubs operating under a franchise agreement. JD Wetherspoon said it expected to have a year-end net debt of between £720m and £740m, with headroom of approximately £200m. Martin said that the company had invested in new staff facilities in 520 pubs, with 270 planned for the future, costing approximately £100,000 per pub. Read more: Will central banks cut interest rates in the wake of Trump tariff turmoil? Have your say In terms of its product range, Martin said the pub chain had recently started selling Jaipur traditional ale from the Thornbridge Brewery, Kronenbourg 1664 Biere and Poretti. "As regards the menu, new initiatives include a gourmet burger offer, which has proved extremely popular in the pubs in which it has been trialled," he added. Dan Lane, lead analyst at Robinhood UK, said: "Sales are in a good place and there is a clear focus on getting the pub count up but also making sure these are quality sites that the UK public wants to go to. Slowly does it though, as the property footprint still sits slightly below the 800 mark, against the 1,000 the group has previously targeted." "Debt is still high but the market has shrugged that off over the past month, pushing shares higher even as US tariffs have taken centre stage," he said. "The reality is that Spoons is unlikely to fall foul of any US exporting taxes and serves a domestic customer base that has kept its interest despite inflationary pressures."
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Plans submitted for new gym at business park
Plans have been submitted for a new 24-hour gym in a disused unit at a retail park in Kent. The Gym Group has submitted a planning application to take over a building at Kingstanding Business Park in Tunbridge Wells. "The unit is currently vacant and was formally occupied as a retail unit by a carpet store," the fitness firm writes in planning documents. A total of 15 full-time jobs are set to be created at the new fitness centre. The company said it "aims to increase access to health and fitness activities to a wider demographic to encourage and improve health and wellbeing by providing a low-cost option". Kent towns including Strood, Gillingham and Ashford already have their own Gym Group venues and there are more than 240 in the UK. Councillor Victoria Jones, who represents the area on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, said: "As the business park takes shape over the next year or so, having a centre for fitness and wellbeing right on its doorstep and accessible to residents in Knights' Park is a positive development." A retail park has been on site for decades but has undergone expansion in recent years, according to Local Democracy Reporting Service. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Historic manor house to reopen as hotel and spa Council awards £100k in community support grants Primark to open shop in Tunbridge Wells Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
