The United Kingdom offers one of the worst statutory paternity leave entitlements among developed nations, according to a damning new report by the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee.
The committee warns that the current maximum of just two weeks’ paternity leave is woefully insufficient and fails to reflect the needs and desires of modern families. The report claims that the limited provision not only undermines efforts to support working fathers, but also reinforces outdated gender stereotypes around childcare, whereby mothers are assumed to be the default carers.
Sarah Owen, Labour MP for Luton North and chairwoman of the committee, described the UK’s parental leave system as “urgently in need of overhaul”, adding that reform must begin with longer and better paid leave for fathers and other non-birthing parents.
“Our current offer is completely out of step with how most couples want to share their parenting responsibilities,” said Ms Owen. “It entrenches gendered assumptions that care is solely a woman’s role, when many fathers want – and need – to be more actively involved in the early days of their children’s lives.”
The report urges the Government to take immediate steps by amending the Employment Rights Bill to introduce a statutory right to paid leave from day one of employment. It also calls for raising paternity pay to match maternity pay in the first six weeks – 90% of average earnings.
The committee’s report is unequivocal in its criticism, stating that “tinkering around the edges of the system will not suffice.” It says working parents are being “let down” by a regime that has not evolved in line with modern family dynamics or the rising cost of living.
A key recommendation is for a phased increase in statutory parental pay across the board, to bring it up to 80% or more of average earnings, or to match the real Living Wage. The report also highlights the plight of self-employed fathers, who are currently excluded from statutory paternity benefits – a situation it brands as “deeply unfair”.
The committee suggests introducing a paternity allowance for self-employed fathers, similar to the existing maternity allowance, to ensure equity and support for all parents, regardless of employment status.
Ms Owen stressed that financial investment in this area should be viewed not as a cost, but as an opportunity to unlock broader societal and economic benefits. “While reform will require investment, the long-term gains – including improved child development, greater workplace equality, and stronger family bonds – make this a sound and necessary commitment,” she said.
One of the biggest criticisms in the report is levelled at the Shared Parental Leave (SPL) system, introduced in 2015, which allows parents to split up to 50 weeks of leave. The committee describes it as “complex, confusing and underused”, with many parents – and employers – struggling to navigate its eligibility rules and administrative burden.
The MPs recommend a full review of the SPL scheme, including consideration of abolishing the restrictive employment status, service time, and earnings criteria that currently prevent many from accessing it.
More Read
To build a more effective and equitable system, the committee has urged the Government to study international best practices. This includes the German “partnership bonus” and Portugal’s “sharing bonus”, both of which offer additional paid leave to couples who share parental responsibilities more equally.
“The UK is lagging far behind comparable countries,” Ms Owen concluded. “If ministers are serious about gender equality and family support, they must commit to comprehensive, meaningful reform. Piecemeal change simply won’t cut it.”
The Government is expected to respond formally to the report in the coming weeks. Campaigners and parenting groups are already calling for swift and decisive action to ensure fair, accessible, and modern parental leave for all.
