As we highlighted in an article last June, the Liberal Democrat MP, Wendy Chamberlain, introduced a private members bill in order to provide a statutory right to 1 weeks unpaid carer’s leave. That bill has now successfully completed its second reading, and is a step closer to becoming law.
Carer's Leave Bill
Back In September 2021, however, the Government did in fact announce that working carers would receive a new statutory right to 1 week’s unpaid carer's leave. It was anticipated that this new legislation would form part of a new Employment Bill, and that the Employment Bill would be included in the 2022 Queen’s Speech. However, ultimately no new Employment Bill materialised, and nor did any legislation to introduce a new statutory right to 1 week’s unpaid carer's leave.
Accordingly, Liberal Democrat MP, Wendy Chamberlain, introduced a private members bill in order to try and get a new statutory right to 1 weeks unpaid carer's leave enacted.
It is extremely rare that private members bills ever succeed in progressing to actual legislation without Government support, and only the top seven which enter the ballot for private members bills are guaranteed debating time. Nevertheless, whilst Wendy Chamberlain’s Bill came in 10th, it did receive its 1st Reading on the 15th June 2022 and subsequently received Government backing
Government Backing
The absence of any proposed Government legislation to introduce the proposed new statutory right to 1 week’s unpaid carer's leave in the Queen’s Speech had prompted the Conservative MP, Dame Caroline Dinenage, to ask the then minister for small business, consumers and labour markets, Paul Scully, what the timetable as regards carer's leave was. He stated that the Government remains "committed to unpaid carer's leave and indeed will introduce it when parliamentary time allows.“ Ultimately, the Government decided that the best way of following through on that was to back Wendy Chamberlain’s private members bill
In providing Government backing for Wendy Chamberlain’s bill, the Business Minister, Dean Russell, stated: "Carers play a vital role in our society, and it is only right that we support them so they can balance their caring responsibilities with their working life. These reforms will not only better the lives of millions of unpaid carers across the UK, but also the friends and family that are dependent on their compassion every day."
Second Reading
The second reading of Wendy Chamberlain’s bill had been due to take place on the 9th September 2022, but had to be postponed until the 21st October 2022 following the death of the Queen and the country going into a national period of mourning.
Reaction
Upon the bill passing its second reading, Wendy Chamberlain stated: "I am delighted that my Carer's Leave Bill has passed its second reading today. When passed this will give millions of carers employments rights for the first time ever. It is a landmark change in how businesses support their employees. I want to thank the carers and businesses who have spoken to me in support of Carer's Leave. It is clear that this policy is a win-win. Carers, without whom our society wouldn’t function, are supported to better balance work and home without burning out; and businesses have happier, more motivated workers with higher retention rates."
The Chief Executive of Carers UK, Helen Walker, added: "We are thrilled that the government has supported the Carer’s Leave Bill at its successful second reading. Having worked to support carers in employment for years, Carers UK’s evidence shows Carer’s Leave would make a significant difference to unpaid carers’ lives, helping them stay in work and improving wellbeing by giving time off to attend appointments, arrange or provide care. As well as supporting families, it also makes business sense, helping retain skilled employees."
Committee Stage
Having passed its second reading on its journey to being enacted, the bill now moves on to the committee stage.
