Call to give fathers four months' parental leave

New mothers should get less time off work and new fathers more, says a report out today.

The study, by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, has suggested statutory maternity leave be cut from nine months of paid leave to six, with an optional four months "parental leave" for fathers. The group believes the changes would shift perceptions that only mothers looked after children as well as prevent women struggling in the workplace and being seen as less attractive employees.

Equality and Human Rights Commission chief executive Nicola Brewer said: "Changing the way we approach parental leave could be one way of tackling the gender pay gap." The report wants fathers to be able to tag-on the extra paternity leave after the mother's six months of maternity leave finishes.

It also argues that maternity leave, which is paid at 90 per cent of their salary for the first six weeks and the statutory rate of £117.18 a week for the remainder, should be changed to allow eight weeks at 90 per cent of salary.

Fathers would be given the first two weeks of paternity leave at 90 per cent. The extra "parental leave" would be allocated on a "use it or lose it" basis so fathers would not be allowed to transfer unused leave to their partner.

But business chiefs are likely to balk at the scheme, which would cost about£5.3billion to introduce over the next decade on top of the £2billion it currently costs.