Boris Johnson is being asked to change the law to ensure that women who experience a miscarriage are given at least three days of paid leave.
A cross-party group of MPs have sent a letter to Prime Minister demanding that provision me made for the thousands of women who lose babies before their term is complete but have no time off to grieve.
SNP MP Angela Crawley, one of the MPs pressing for change, said that around one in eight pregnancies will end in miscarriage, meaning thousands of women and men are “suffering profound loss without adequate time to grieve.”
The MP for Lanark and Hamilton East said: “The loss of a baby at any stage of a pregnancy can be traumatic and parents need adequate time to grieve.”
She added: “However, under current rules, the only way they can get that time to grieve is by requesting compassionate leave - which may or may not be granted - or take annual or unpaid leave. This isn’t fair.”
“That is why I, and MPs from across the House, are urging Boris Johnson to follow in New Zealand’s footsteps and bring in three days of paid leave for anyone who has suffered a miscarriage.”
The SNP 2021 Manifesto said the party would emulate New Zealand where families who experience miscarriage or stillbirth are entitled to three days of paid leave.
However employment law remains reserved to Westminster, so only the Tory government has the power to make the change.
Under UK law there is no obligation for employers to give someone bereavement leave if they or their partner loses a baby before the 24th week of pregnancy.
Businesses also only have to allow parents to use planned maternity or paternity leave if their child is stillborn after 24 weeks.
Crawley said: “We recognise that most employers go above and beyond to support bereaved families, however there are exceptions and it is our role to support those suffering without adequate time to grieve. To do that, the UK government must change employment law, which is reserved.”
She added: “The SNP Government has made clear that if we had the power, we would already be setting in motion plans to bring in paid miscarriage leave and we cannot continue to wait for Westminster to act.”
Meanwhile Barking and Dagenham council in London is believed to be the first local authority in the UK to offer full paid leave to employees who experience a miscarriage or stillbirth.
Women who suffer the loss of a baby at any stage in their pregnancy will be entitled to a week off work in plans unveiled by the Labour council.
