The draft Parental Leave (EU Directive) Regulations 2013 have been published, amending UK legislation to implement Council Directive 2010/18/EU on the revised framework agreement on parental leave. These regulations amend relevant provisions in the Employment Rights Act 1996 (the ERA) and the Maternity and Parental Leave etc. Regulations 1999 (the 1999 Regulations). Regulation 2 amends section 80F of the ERA by extending the right to request a contract variation on return to work following a period of parental leave to agency workers. Regulation 3 makes two changes to the 1999 Regulations. The first increases the entitlement to parental leave of a qualifying employee from 13 weeks to 18 weeks in respect of an individual child. The second amendment introduces a requirement on the Secretary of State to review the implementation of the Directive, and to publish a report within 5 years, and further reports within every 5 years after that. The amendments will come into force on 8 March 2013.
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