Parental bereavement rights established in Jersey law

The minister for Social Security said it was an important first step in supporting affected parents

Parents in Jersey who suffer the loss of a child under the age of 18, including stillbirths, will be entitled to two weeks unpaid leave from work.

Minister for Social Security, Deputy Lyndsay Feltham, signed an order to bring the change into law.

The change, proposed by Deputy Steve Ahier and approved by the States Assembly, will be a day one employment right.

Ms Feltham said the change was "an important first step".

The change means it will be possible to take the leave at any time during the first 56 weeks after the child's death.

Alongside this, the Government of Jersey has set up a payment scheme which will provide financial support to parents for any potential lost wages.

Self-employed workers will also be eligible to payments from this new scheme.

'Supporting affected parents'

The process for receiving payments will be arranged by the government, with no requirement for parents to be directly involved.

Ms Feltham said: "For any parent, the death of a child is a tragedy, and no amount of time off work or financial assistance will make up for it.

"This legislation and payment scheme is an important first step in supporting affected parents.

"I'd like to thank both previous ministers for Social Security for their work on the project and also Deputy Ahier for his hard work in bringing this proposition forward to the Assembly."