Parents looking for jobs at job boards and with online job searches can take heart today with the promise from trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt of an extra three months' paid maternity leave by 2007, and greater paternity leave.
Ms Hewitt announced the measure today, which would be implemented in a third Labour term.
The eventual goal would be to give mothers a year's paid leave by the end of the next parliament, while fathers would also be allowed to take a proportion of the leave.
"Family and working life is changing. It's no longer the case that dad works while mum stays at home. Today, often both parents have to work and greater flexibility is needed," Ms Hewitt said.
"Helping hard working parents give their children the best start and give carers greater help is not only good for families but is good news for our economic growth and prosperity."
She said that offering greater workplace flexibility allows employers to attract and maintain good staff and create a committed working environment.
However, the director of the Centre for Policy Studies said that Ms Hewitt was "living in a never-never land" if she thought small businesses could cope with the uncertainties that extending leave would cause.
Ruth Lea added that the plans would render employment contracts "meaningless" and other employees would feel "increasingly resentful" of what they see as time-off for parents.
The government said it would also consult on a new right for parents of older children and carers to request flexible working.
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