Proposed parental leave 'complicated'

Proposals to transform parental leave legislation are not viable in the current economic climate, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has said.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission recently published a report calling for changes to parental leave.

Plans include offering women maternity leave at 90 per cent pay for 26 weeks instead of the current six, paying men on paternity leave at 90 per cent of their salary for the first two weeks and permitting both parents to take up to four months off at any time before the child's fifth birthday.

But the CBI believes that the proposals are too complicated and not at all suitable for people with management skills to implement at present.

Katja Hall, director of HR policy at the business group, said: "Given the alarming state of the public finances, these plans, which would cost taxpayers an extra £5.3 billion, are unaffordable.

"It makes far more sense to focus on encouraging flexible working, which is open to both parents but does not materially increase costs for business and the taxpayer."