Parents who experience a miscarriage before 24 weeks should be entitled to paid leave, a Scottish MP had demanded.
SNP MP Angela Crawley will lead a Westminster debate on the introduction of paid miscarriage leave to close the gap in provision.
The Lanark and Hamilton East MP has been campaigning for the introduction of paid miscarriage leave for all who experience a miscarriage.
She currently has a private members’ bill on the issue awaiting a second reading. She is also calling on the UK Government to introduce the policy in its upcoming Employment Bill.
In a debate in Westminster hall on Tuesday Crawley will continue to call for the introduction of paid leave for those who experience a miscarriage before 24 weeks.
She said: “Too many workers are left without support due to the cracks in the current inadequate system, which leaves paid provision of leave at the discretion of employers.
“Miscarriage is a tragic loss, not an illness. It is unacceptable that many workers must resort to taking sick leave or annual leave in order to take time to grieve.
“My petition on this issue currently stands at over 38,000 signatories and there is considerable cross-party support in the House for this proposal.
“The UK Government must rectify this gap in provision and legislate for the implementation of paid leave for all who experience miscarriage as part of their upcoming Employment Bill.”
One in four pregnancies end in miscarriage, however, under current legislation, workers are only entitled to bereavement leave following a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Last month, Northern Ireland became the first country in the UK to legislate for this provision.
The SNP has called on the UK government to follow Northern Ireland’s lead or devolve the powers to Scotland so that the issue can legislated on in Holyrood.
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