Labour calls on Government to support 20 days’ miscarriage leave and 10 days’ fertility leave
Labour calls on Government to support 20 days’ miscarriage leave and 10 days’ fertility leave - The Labour Party
Anna Daly, TV anchor and broadcaster, joined Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik TD and Marie Sherlock TD today in calling on Government to support Labour legislation providing dedicated leave for women experiencing miscarriage and those undergoing fertility treatment.
The Labour Party’s legislation, first published in March 2021, would provide 20 days’ paid leave for women following early pregnancy loss or miscarriage; and 10 days’ leave for people undergoing fertility treatment. This Bill would recognise the significant physical and emotional impact these experiences can have and the need for people to have time away from work when they need it most.
Speaking ahead of the Enterprise Committee’s consideration of the Bill, Anna Daly said:
“Having experienced two miscarriages myself, I know the heartbreak of that loss and how difficult it is to return to work as though nothing has happened.
“After my first, I took ‘sick leave’; another time, I was back at work on the Monday, with no time or space to acknowledge what I’d been through or to grieve.
“Miscarriage is a real loss, at every stage of pregnancy. It’s time our workplaces, and our laws, recognised it as such.
“This is about women today and future generations of women, and I’ll be very proud if I can play even a tiny part in making that change.”
Labour Party leader Ivana Bacik TD said:
“Just yesterday, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced his Government’s plan to extend bereavement leave to include early pregnancy loss.
“We need to acknowledge the shock, trauma and loss experienced by those who endure miscarriage or pregnancy loss before the 24th week of pregnancy, as so eloquently articulated by Anna Daly, and by so many other women who have shared their stories of pregnancy loss with us since we began our campaign.
“Our legislation would give women the time and space out of the workplace that they need to recover from miscarriage, and the time for people to undergo fertility treatments like IVF.”
Labour health spokesperson Marie Sherlock TD said:
“There is a clear need for a compassionate and practical approach to leave following miscarriage and during fertility treatment. The legislation proposed by Government in July of this year simply doesn’t cut it.
“The failure to provide any time off for fertility treatments in the general scheme of that Bill is a glaring gap that must be accommodated for.
“People should not have to use annual leave, rely on sick leave or feel that they have to conceal what they are going through simply because the law does not specify a dedicated entitlement.
“It is estimated that approximately one out of five women will have a miscarriage. One in six couples in Ireland will experience difficulty conceiving. This about breaking the silence around these issues and ensuring that women are not left to the whim of the generosity of their employers.
“There is a real opportunity today to make change happen and give people the support they need when it matters most. Labour’s Bill is an ambitious one that has already passed the Seanad. The Enterprise Committee must allow this Bill to move to Committee Stage. Government must back Labour’s legislation to provide compassion when it is needed most.”