UK one of Europe's WORST for maternity pay

UK mothers have it so much worse than their European counterparts when it comes to decently paid maternity leave, research by the national trade union TUC has found.  

As it stands, of the nations that do offer statutory maternity pay, only Ireland and Slovakia have worse entitlements.

Currently, British mothers are entitled to 90% of their annual take-home pay for six weeks. This is much longer on the continent. In Spain, Italy, France and Denmark mums are entitled to at least three months of pay at 100% of earning; this goes up to half a year for Croatian mothers.  

The TUC’s General Secretary, Frances O’Grady, said: “The UK is in the relegation zone when it comes to decently paid maternity leave.