We call on the UK Government to urgently reform eligibility rules for statutory maternity and paternity pay so that support is based on actual work contributed, not how long someone has remained with a single employer.

Under current rules, many parents are denied statutory maternity or paternity pay simply because they have not been employed by the same employer for long enough, even if they have been working consistently, paying tax, and contributing to the economy.

This system unfairly penalises people who change jobs, work on fixed-term contracts, return to employment after redundancy, or build careers across multiple employers.

In modern working life, job mobility is normal. Families should not lose vital financial support during pregnancy or early parenthood simply because they changed roles, progressed in their careers, or worked across different organisations.

Other countries have adopted more modern, fair, and inclusive approaches by recognising total employment or contributions over a defined period rather than continuous service with a single employer.

 Systems such as those used in Spain demonstrate that parental support can be structured around participation in the workforce overall, not employer loyalty alone.

The UK must update its system to reflect how people actually work today.

We call for:

Eligibility based on total days or earnings worked within a defined period, for example across the previous 12 to 24 months, regardless of employer.

Protection for workers who change jobs, work fixed-term contracts, or have multiple employers.
A fair, modern parental pay system that reflects workforce participation rather than continuous service with one company.

Equal access to maternity and paternity pay for all working parents who have made meaningful economic contributions.

A full review of statutory parental pay eligibility rules to ensure fairness, flexibility, and alignment with modern employment patterns.

No parent should be denied support at one of life’s most critical moments simply because they changed jobs.

 If a person has worked, contributed, and paid into the system, they should qualify for parental support.

We urge the Government to modernise maternity and paternity pay eligibility to reflect fairness, mobility, and the realities of today’s workforce.

Sign this petition to support fair parental pay based on work contributed, not employer tenure.