Two weeks off for new dads

Fathers are to be given a huge cash incentive to take two weeks off after the birth of a child.

The plan, to be included in Labour's election manifesto, emerged as Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt said it was time to tackle "career sexism" for holding back both men and women.

At present, fathers are entitled to up to two weeks' paid leave which is set at £102.80 a week, or 90 per cent of average weekly earnings if this is less than £102.80.

But now ministers say firms should pay 90 per cent of full salary for the two weeks.

The move is seen as a key way for Labour to outflank the Tories on an issue affecting millions of working parents. Mothers are also in line for a year's maternity leave, although it will be paid at a flat rate.

Ms Hewitt used a Downing Street summit today on closing the gender pay gap to underline the Government's commitment to familyfriendly reforms.

The idea, backed by Labour activists, comes as a new survey shows fathers fail to take time owed because they are left out of pocket. Four out of five would take up their statutory leave if paternity pay increased to 90 per cent of full pay, according to research. And while 87 per cent said they would take paternity leave if they got full pay, only 46 per cent would take it if the law remains unchanged.

Ministers believe fathers want time off not only to care for their new child, but to support their partner. The key issue of who would pay for the new leave is yet to be settled, but ministers are keen on making employers pay rather than the Treasury.

But while big employers are in favour of many new rights for mothers and fathers, smaller firms say that even the current plans are proving difficult for them.

Ed Balls, Gordon Brown's former chief aide, gave a strong hint about the new policy when he said recently that employers had "responsibilities as well as rights" in the area of family-friendly hours.

"Flexible employment policies are becoming embedded in the UK world of work. But fathers tell us they can't afford to spend time with their newborn children at current rates of paternity pay," said Duncan Brown, assistant directorgeneral at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development which carried out the research among 1,000 workers. The Department of Trade and Industry said figures for the take-up of paternity pay would be available next year, but the low rate could be due to the scale of pay or could be "a cultural issue, with many fathers in the workplace still not seen as having a legitimate role in childcare".

Ms Hewitt has drafted a pamphlet calling for the moves towards huge increases in paternity and maternity pay to help Labour win the next election. She also warned today that getting rid of "career sexism" is vital to closing the pay gap between men and women - currently 19 per cent, according to the Equal Opportunities Commission.

She said it was time to tackle "stereotypes" in the workplace. "It's not Government's job to dictate employment options, but we must give women more choice if we are to address the chronic pay gap.

"Career sexism limits opportunities for women of all ages and prevents them from achieving their full potential. It is simply wrong to assume someone cannot do a job on the grounds of their sex."