Time to grieve | 'Overwhelming' case for bereavement leave to cover miscarriages, MPs say

New employment laws must include bereavement leave for those who miscarry during pregnancy, a new report has said.

MPs sitting on the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) say a period of paid leave “should be available to all women and partners who experience a pre-24-week pregnancy loss”, it concluded, adding: “the case for a minimum standard in law is overwhelming”.

The WEC is lobbying to include the law in the Government’s flagship Employment Rights Bill. 

The Committee’s proposed amendments to the bill seek to extend the same entitlements to statutory parental bereavement leave and pay as are currently available to parents bereaved by the loss of children and stillborn babies, to employees who experience pre-24-week pregnancy losses.