Maternity leave to rise

Paid maternity leave is to be extended from six to nine months, with a long-term aim of increasing it to a year and making it transferable to fathers.

At present, working mothers are entitled to six months' paid leave followed by six months' unpaid leave. However, most cannot afford to remain at home after the money runs out.

The plan, outlined in last month's pre-budget speech by chancellor Gordon Brown and predicted in June's Workplace Report, is part of the government's 10-year childcare strategy, along with a £50-a-week tax-free childcare allowance for parents as part of their salary.

Meanwhile, the Equal Opportunities Commission has said that employers should be allowed to ask when employees will return from maternity leave. Currently staff are not obliged to tell their employer how long they plan to take as leave.

EOC chair Julie Mellor said that early dialogue between employers and staff on maternity leave would remove uncertainty and reduce unnecessary business costs.