The new law, part of the Work and Families Act (Northern Ireland) 2015, provides that parents of children due to be born, or placed for adoption, on or after April 5, 2015, who meet qualifying conditions will be able to access shared parental leave and pay in their child’s first year.
Commenting on the new provisions, Minister for Employment and Learning Dr Stephen Farry said that the law has been drafted to accommodate changing expectations around work and family life.
“It is right that we do more to support the role of fathers and partners who want to contribute more to the care of their children…It is also important to challenge assumptions that only women will ever be absent from the workplace for caring reasons,” said Minister Farry.
He added: “Addressing these points will have long term benefits for all parents, irrespective of gender.”
Under the new provisions, working mothers will have the option to end their maternity pay and leave early, and to share untaken leave and pay with their partner.
Another provision will allow adoptive parents to bring their adoption leave and pay to an early end and opt into shared parental leave and pay with their spouse.
More information on the new law can be found through this link.
