The Northern Ireland Executive has announced that new miscarriage leave and pay entitlements will be formally made and come into effect from 6 April.
The new regulations will extend statutory parental bereavement leave and pay to workers after a miscarriage and apply to the other affected parents and partners.
Parental bereavement leave and pay will also become a day-one right for workers, removing the qualifying period of 26 weeks of continuous employment. This applies to all new cases of entitlement from that date, while eligibility criteria requires a minimum earnings threshold set at £129 per week.
The policy and regulations only require a declaration of entitlement, as the government believes requiring parents to provide medical evidence at such a distressing time would be insensitive and would add an administrative burden to an already stretched health service.
The new regulations will build on the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022, which was passed by the assembly the same year. It gave working parents the right to two weeks of paid leave following the death of a child under 18, or a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
They are intended to provide dedicated support, as it is estimated that more than 9,000 people per year are affected by a miscarriage, either experienced by them or their partner.
Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: “Parents who suffer the loss of a child should be treated with care and compassion. These new rights allow women who experience miscarriage and their partner to take up to two weeks of paid leave to grieve and to support each other during a very difficult time. I welcome the assembly’s approval of these regulations, which will make a meaningful difference to many women and families across the north.”
