'Not enough to live on' | UK among worst countries for paid maternity leave

The UK and Ireland are on the brink of a baby boom, but a new league table comparing statutory maternity pay during the cost of living crisis shows they are falling short compared to most of their European neighbours.

The rankings have been produced by Boundless, a global employment platform, after analysing how individual countries compensated women as they become new mothers. Employers and Governments in Europe are responsible for covering statutory pay for new mothers to varying degrees.

Each country was assessed based on the length of full maternity pay it offers to employees (not all countries offer full pay so the time has been adjusted to reflect that). The league table reveals that the UK and Ireland are among the lowest payers in the continent.

The analysis found that Bulgaria boasts Europe’s best maternity package. It allows new mothers to take a minimum of 58.6 weeks off (410 days), with its National Health Insurance Fund paying 90% of their full salary during leave (with a social security cap of £1,452 or €1,700). Similarly, Norway pays mothers 80-100% of their full salary for at least 49 weeks. Its Scandinavian neighbours are also not far behind, with Sweden paying 80% of an employee’s full salary for 34 weeks and Finland paying 90% for 29 weeks.