London sources reported that the first British government law to allow paid leave from work for parents who suffer the death of a child was given royal assent on Thursday by Queen Elizabeth II. Meanwhile the new law to support parents affected by the tragedy of childhood mortality is expected to come into force in 2020, and was welcomed by charities offering help to bereaved moms and dads.
Accordingly a press release by the UK government said the Parental Leave and Pay Bill will give employed parents who lose a child under 18 years of age two weeks' leave when it comes into force. Furthermore the new act will give all employed parents a day one right to 2 weeks' leave if they lose a child under the age of 18, or suffer a stillbirth from 24 weeks of pregnancy. Moreover the employed parents will also be able to claim pay for this period, subject to meeting eligibility criteria.
Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst Will Quince,
a Member of Parliament, said "He is delighted that parents in this awful
situation will now have the protection of paid leave enshrined in law, and we
should be very proud that the UK now has one of the best worker's rights in
this area in the world." Further Steven Wibberley, Chief Executive of
Cruse Bereavement Care charity, said: "We are delighted that this bill has
been approved as it will make a huge difference to bereaved parents whose lives
have been shattered by the death of a child.
