I want to provide an update on my campaign for the Government to introduce 5-10 days of statutory carers leave a year
I have been out in the constituency drumming up support for my Parliamentary Petition calling for Government action on this issue and I would like to thank the hundreds of people who have signed so far. It is only by keeping up pressure on the Government that we will be able to make this change happen and introduce what could be life-changing help for the UK’s 6.5 million carers.
At the moment there is no statutory entitlement to short term paid carers leave. The Employment Rights Act of 1996 only provides for a ‘reasonable amount of unpaid time off’ to care for dependants for one-off appointments and emergencies. Latest figures show that almost 5 million people already juggle paid work and unpaid care so it is increasingly important that carers have the right to request paid care leave. Latest Research from Carers UK reveals that 2.6 million have quit their job to care for a loved one who is older, disabled or seriously ill. The estimated costs to the economy of carers being forced to give up work to care had reached £5.3 billion in lost tax revenues, earnings and additional benefit payments.
I have also decided to launch an online petition to spread the word about this campaign even further- don’t worry if you have already signed my paper petition, you can still sign this one as well and add your voice to those who believe our carers deserve a better deal.
To sign my online petition, please click here: https://forms.gle/Cvos2G1H9Uvf3LEM
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