date: 9 November 2008

embargo: 00.01hrs Monday 10 November 2008

Better maternity pay benefits employers too, says TUC

Commenting on a report on maternity pay published today (Monday) by Incomes Data Services (IDS), TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:

'This shows that many companies see the benefits of paying their female staff a decent level of maternity pay. But many women whose employers only pay the statutory minimum find they cannot afford to stay off work for long and are forced to return soon after the birth of their children.

'The Government should not use the recession as a reason to delay planned improvements to maternity pay and family-friendly working. Increasing maternity pay would not be a huge extra cost to business and would help companies recruit and retain highly skilled female employees.'

NOTES TO EDITORS:

- The IDS report found that 74% of companies provide more than the statutory maternity pay requirement. The report also found half (52%) of respondents think that the current statutory minimum maternity pay for women is too low and only 1% think it is too high.

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Contacts:

Media enquiries:
Rob Holdsworth T: 020 7467 1372 M: 07717 531150 E: rholdsworth@tuc.org.uk

Press release (300 words) issued 10 Nov 2008