Paid miscarriage leave now a day-one right in Northern Ireland

This legislation provides two weeks of paid leave at the statutory level of £194.32 a week, or 90% of weekly earnings if that figure is lower. Parents can take the leave as a single continuous period or as two separate weeks within 56 weeks of the loss. There is no requirement for medical evidence; individuals simply need to notify their employer of the situation.

This update addresses a significant gap in previous legislation. Before these changes, parents in Northern Ireland were only entitled to two weeks of paid bereavement leave following a stillbirth after at least 24 weeks of pregnancy, and only if they had held their position for a period of 26 weeks. Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: “Parents who suffer the loss of a child should be treated with care and compassion. These new rights allow women who experience miscarriage and their partner to take up to two weeks of paid leave to grieve and to support each other during a very difficult time. I welcome the Assembly’s approval of these Regulations, which will make a meaningful difference to many women and families across the north.”

PCS has welcomed the change as a vital support for couples. regional secretary for Ireland, Gayle Matthews said: “This change to the law affords women and their partners a level of basic dignity in the most difficult of circumstances. PCS urges employers to quickly implement the changes to reduce the impact on individuals and remove any administrative burdens which people don’t need to be dealing with when faced with miscarriage.

“PCS however won’t take for granted that all employers will act quickly and we will be on hand to assist any member faced with difficulties in accessing this new right.”