The Parental Bereavement (Pay and Leave) Bill 2017-19 is being debated in Parliament and, if passed, will allow regulations to give employees who lose a child below the age of 18 (including a still birth after 24 weeks) the right to:

• At least two weeks’ leave (irrespective of their length of service);
• At least two weeks’ statutory bereavement pay. Employees with at least 26 weeks’ service will be entitled to be paid the prescribed rate or 90% of their average earnings (whichever is lower);
• Employees will be protected from detriment, redundancy and dismissal as a result of them taking bereavement leave.

If all legislative stages are completed, regulations are expected to be introduced in 2020.