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Closed Increase paternity leave to at least 4 weeks fully paid leave

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Increase paternity leave from 2 weeks (on potentially reduced pay) to at least 4 weeks fully paid leave, to allow them to support new mothers and better bond with their newborns.

2 weeks paid leave (which can be at a reduced rate) isn’t sufficient for fathers to bond with their newborns and support their partners.

In cases with traumatic birth or even C sections mothers may not even be able to move properly and they need their partners at home.

Some EU countries already have substantially more generous paternity leave arrangements for new fathers.

It isn’t a case of reducing maternity leave so paternity leave is longer, but granting new rights to fathers, which should also help mental and physical well-being for mothers.

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    If this petition gets 10,000 signatures, government will respond to it.

    If this petition gets 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

    This petition will stay open until 14 March 2022.