Urgent family leave is set to be increased from fifteen hours to four working days of eight hours each, the Parliamentary Secretariat for Social Dialogue said in a statement on Monday.
It added that this change will be taking effect from 4th April 2025.
Parliamentary Secretary Andy Ellul said that these measures will also apply to pro-rata part-time timers, as he remarked that this is another election promise fulfilled by the government.
Ellul continued that workers will be able to benefit from this measure when they need urgent leave to care for a relative. Some examples he mentioned included a worker being unable to go to work because their children are sick, or a worker needing to assist their parents in case of illness or some other cause of urgent help being needed in their residence, even if they do not live in the same residence. He added that the urgent family leave will also be available to those who have legal custody of a minor, as well as the siblings between them in case of emergency.
The Parliamentary Secretary remarked that this increase in the leave is one that will have a positive impact on the lives of families. He commented that the increase in the leave period is even more than what was proposed in the election manifesto, and added that the increase was decided on following discussion and agreement with social partners, trade unions, and employer representatives.
He continued that the days will not all be deducted from leave. He said that the first sixteen hours will be deducted from the leave, and that the rest will be deducted from sick leave. Ellul remarked that strong social dialogue can obtain results which make a difference in people's lives, and stated that the addition of this leave will give workers more peace of mind.
The Parliamentary Secretariat concluded that it is continuing to add to the chain of measures given to workers in recent years, "including parental leave, paternity leave - which has been extended to self-employed fathers, as well as the five days carers leave of which three are now paid for workers in the public sector".