The new Tory welfare chief called for a slashing of maternity rights to “provide a massive shot in the arm for British business”, it can be revealed.
Mel Stride, who was appointed as Work and Pensions Secretary last week, complained that rules on leave for new mothers and fathers were too “onerous”.
The Cabinet minister demanded the government “seriously consider” how the rights of parents to take time off after having a baby could be reversed.
Labour ’s Jonathan Ashworth last night said the revelation showed why “working people simply can’t trust the Tories”.
Writing on the Conservative Home website in September 2012, Mr Stride took issue with how workers “can require their employer to provide up to 52 weeks of statutory maternity leave and to keep their job open for their potential return”.
“These rights accompany each and every pregnancy and so it is not uncommon for an employee to take multiple breaks from work in relatively close proximity and for up to a year on each occasion,” the senior Tory moaned.
“Under these circumstances not only do employers have to struggle with filling jobs on a temporary basis for lengthy periods but they also often face considerable uncertainty as to how long the actual period of absence will be.”
Mr Stride warned the “impact of these requirements on small businesses in particular can be profound”, adding that maternity leave can also cause “resentment” amongst colleagues who have to step in.
In the article he admitted the “politics around this issue are tricky” with “worldwide experience showing that changes in this area of employment law tend to ratchet in one direction alone – towards greater generosity to employees”.
But he went on: “There have though been some notable examples of countries rowing back in this area in recent years, including Germany.
“If we want to provide a massive shot in the arm for British business and entrepreneurship I would hope that we could seriously consider following their example with at least a close look at relaxations in protected-employment legislation for smaller businesses.”
Mr Stride claimed there was “some evidence” that as maternity policies are made “more generous, the likelihood of a mother with young children returning to work diminishes”.
As Work and Pensions Secretary, Mr Stride is currently involved in discussions on whether the government sticks to its promises to increase both benefits and the state pension in line with inflation. A decision is expected to be announced in the Autumn Statement next month.
Labour’s shadow work and pensions secretary Mr Ashworth last night said: “The Tories crashed the economy, forced a run on pension funds, sent mortgage rates soaring and now want working families and pensioners to pay the price.
“They’ve already threatened to break their promise on the Triple Lock again and to cut Universal Credit for hard-pressed families.
“Now we learn the new Work and Pensions Secretary previously threatened vital employment rights for new parents.”
He added: “Only Labour offers the leadership and ideas Britain needs to fix the economy and grow it in the interests of working people.”
British workers can take up to 52 weeks’ maternity leave, although employers only have to pay people 90% of their salary for the first six weeks, before going down to a flat rate.
In Germany, statutory maternity leave only lasts 14 weeks, but parents are able to apply to their bosses to take up to a year off.
A spokesman for Mr Stride last night said: “This article is from over a decade ago. As it made clear at the time, Mel was not arguing against these kinds of employee rights and believes maternity leave has a vital part to play in facilitating the participation of women in the workforce.”
A Government spokesman said: “The Government remains committed to supporting working parents and helping them participate and progress in their working life in a way that’s fair and suits them.
“The UK has one of the most generous maternity leave entitlements in the world and to support working parents we have spent more than £20 billion over the past five years to improve the cost, choice, and availability of childcare.
"We want employees to be able to request when, where, and how they work, and that’s why the Government has recently consulted on making the right to request flexible working a day one right for all employees.”
