unpaid paternity leave under new proposals contained in the Work and Families Bill published last week.
Childcare organisations gave a cautious welcome to the new Bill but voiced concerns that very few men would be able to afford to take time off unpaid.
Although the Government aims to increase paternity leave, the proposed extension will be a direct trade-off for leave sacrificed by the mother.
The Government plans to increase statutory maternity leave from six to nine months from April next year.
Under the reforms, fathers would be entitled to three months' paid paternity leave at 106 a week, but only if the mother returns to work after six months and before the end of her maternity leave period.
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