Irish parents could be in line for four months paid parental leave

Irish mums and dads could benefit from four months of paid parental leave under new proposals from Brussels.

As part of an initiative to encourage dads to take a break from work to look after their children, published late last month by the European Commission, the law would see workers compensated for the existing statutory entitlement of 18 weeks’ parental leave, which is currently unpaid The Sunday Times reports that Ireland is one of only six EU countries where employers are not obliged to pay workers if they take parental leave - it's entirely at an employers discretion. The new law would see parents receive the compensation they would normally get if they were on sick leave, if not more than that amount. The draft work life balance proposals are aimed at improving the earning power of mothers by helping families to share the load when it comes to childcare. The proposal will need the support of MEPs and member states if the law is to be enacted.