16 February 2024 , 08:39
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The Government is being called on to double maternity pay so mums aren't forced back to work too soon.
Unison and Maternity Action have said the weekly amount should be raised to £364.70. They're worried that some mums are cutting their maternity leave short, skipping meals and making other tough choices because they can't afford to live on the current weekly amount.
Ministers were told that women should get the same as the national minimum wage of £10.42 an hour. A recent survey found that a quarter of mums on maternity leave say they've gone without eating sometimes all day so they can afford to feed their families.
Half of the 1,400 mums in the UK who took part in the survey said they were buying less healthy food to save money and more than a third were skipping meals or having smaller portions. Mums can get Statutory Maternity Pay for up to 39 weeks.
It's 90% of the mum's average weekly earnings before tax for the first six weeks and then either £172.48 or 90% of their average weekly earnings for the next 33 weeks. Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: "Everyone is feeling the impact of escalating living costs, but it's hitting new mums particularly hard."
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"No mother should have to go without food or skip meals but the failure of maternity pay to keep up with increasing living costs is driving many pregnant workers and new mothers into severe financial hardship.nThe Government is effectively forcing many women to choose between work and family.nThey must raise maternity leave pay to ensure no one is penalised for having a baby."
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Maternity Action director Ros Bragg said: "Mothers shouldn't be forced to cut short their maternity leave because they can't make ends meet. This is an important time for women to recover from the birth and bond with their baby."
"Women should be reducing their stress levels during pregnancy and their child's first year, not worrying about how to pay for essentials. Stress during pregnancy puts women at increased risk of post-natal depression and other mental health conditions."
"The Government should be supporting pregnant women and new mothers to live healthy lives, not leaving them struggling to keep their house warm and eat a balanced diet."