Norfolk mum backs calls for double maternity pay
Unison and Maternity Action say women are going back to work early and skipping meals to make ends meet
Last updated 16th Feb 2024
A mum from Norfolk is telling us there's needs to be societal change so parents are viewed as those "raising the next generation" of key workers.
It's after calls from Unison and Maternity Action to double maternity pay, so new mums don't have to go back to work early to make sure they can pay their bills.
They say the statutory weekly amount should be increased to ÂŁ364.70.
"They should be seen as those who are nurturing the next generation"
Rebecca Wright lives in Norwich, and campaigns against maternity discrimination: "There needs to be a societal change in terms of how we see parents and look at the role they play.
"They are currently viewed as people who have kids and then sponge off the Government, When they should be seen as those who are nurturing the next generation.
"Personally, I took 10 months of maternity leave. I didn't feel ready to return and had saved up a significant amount to go onto this leave, but I had to return due to financial issues.
"Not being ready - physically, mentally and emotionally - can have really detrimental effects on the mother, which then affects the wider family and the baby."
"It shouldn't take the current economic crisis to stop us"
Rebecca continued, calling for change: "ÂŁ170 a week falls well short of our European counterparts. There are countries like Sweden, Norway and Bulgaria where there's a significant amount of money and time off offered.
"Having babies isn't for those who are rich or have loads of disposable income. We have been having babies for a millennia and it shouldn't take the current economic crisis to stop us from doing it.
"If the birth-rate continues to decline, that will unravel in the next twenty years and we'll see that we won't be able to access services, due to the fact that there just won't be enough people to deal with the demand that exists."
What else did the research find?
A recent survey by Maternity Action on behalf of Unison showed that a quarter of women on maternity leave say they have gone without eating - sometimes all day - so they can afford to feed their families.
The survey of 1,400 mothers in the UK who had taken maternity leave found that half said they were buying less-healthy food to save money and more than a third were skipping meals or having smaller portions.
Statutory Maternity Pay is available for up to 39 weeks and is 90% of the mother's average weekly earnings before tax for the first six weeks and then the lower amount of either ÂŁ172.48 or 90% of their average weekly earnings for the next 33 weeks.
"It's hitting new mums particularly hard"
Unison general secretary Christina McAnea said: "Everyone is feeling the impact of escalating living costs, but it's hitting new mums particularly hard.
"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.
"The Government is effectively forcing many women to choose between work and family.
"They must raise maternity leave pay to ensure no one is penalised for having a baby."
"Stress during pregnancy puts women at increased risk"
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."
What's the Government said?
A government spokesperson said:
“We want new mothers to be able to take time away from work to protect their health and wellbeing and that of their child. That is why we increased Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance by over 10% last year and will raise it again by 6.7% from April.
“In addition, parents who are ready to return to work will benefit from the single biggest investment in childcare in England ever and we’re supporting those who are struggling with record financial support worth around £3,700 per household.”