Labour to make shared leave offer

Parents already have the right to take unpaid leave to look after their children and Labour will today suggest that grandparents should be able to share that allowance.

The move would allow grandparents to take time off to help look after their grandchildren without fearing losing their job.

Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman said: “There have been many ways in which family life has changed, but public policy remains rooted in the past.

“Labour has a better plan for working families. The sharing of parental leave with grandparents could give families more flexibility by recognising the important role that grandparents play.”

Parents have the right to claim up to 18 weeks unpaid leave for each child up to their 18th birthday, taking a maximum of four weeks in any one year.

A report from the Family and Childcare Trust suggested 1.9 million grandparents have given up their job, reduced their hours or taken time off to look after their grandchildren.

The proposal to share grandparents leave is included in Labour’s women’s manifesto it will launch later today.

Other measures include previously announced policies such as a plan to extend free childcare for three and four-year-olds to 25 hours and forcing large companies to publish details of pay for men and women.