New laws to pave way for carer and neonatal leave

The Employment (Amendment) Bill 2025 would enable the introduction of neonatal care leave

New laws that would pave the way for unpaid carers and parents of a child receiving neonatal hospital care to receive additional leave are set to be introduced in the Manx parliament.

The Employment (Amendment) Bill 2025, which will go before the House of Keys next week, would be followed by secondary legislation to enable the statutory leave provision.

The Department for Enterprise (DfE) said that would allow a period of one week each year for carers, with a longer period available when taking an extended period of leave to manage caring responsibilities.

The plans would also give parents up to 12 weeks on top of parental leave if their child received care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

It is part of wider reforms to the island's employment legislation in a bid to modernise existing laws and comes alongside recent changes to family rights and whistleblowing procedures.

'Changing workforce'

Although there would be no obligation for the leave periods to be paid by the employer, the DfE was working with Treasury to develop options for eligible individuals to access financial assistance during the leave period.

Enterprise Minister Tim Johnston said it was a "step further" in "supporting working families during difficult times and those who have care responsibilities whilst balancing their employment".

"These provisions assist in enabling people to stay in work in the long term and provide practical frameworks for employers, delivering wider socio-economic benefits for the Island," he continued.

It was important to "balance the needs of a changing workforce with those of employers, while keeping pace with developments in neighbouring jurisdictions," he added.

The department said changes to the neonatal care provision aimed to support families experiencing difficult situations at the start of their child's life.

The Bill, which also includes proposals for a right to rest breaks, will have its first reading in the House of Keys on Tuesday.