Press Releases
WORKFARE NOT FAIR FOR NEW FATHERS
SNP QUESTION UNCOVERS THE HARSH REALITY OF WESTMINSTER SANCTIONS
The Scottish National Party’s Mr Pete Wishart MP, Member of Parliament for Perth & North Perthshire, has condemned Westminster’s failure to offer support to new fathers after it was revealed that the legal entitlement for Paternity Leave does not extend to jobseeker's allowance claimants in mandatory work or a community placement.
After a parliamentary question - tabled by SNP Work and Pensions spokesperson Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP - uncovered that the legal entitlement to Paternity Leave is not available to people who are forced to work for their benefits, Mr Wishart said:
“These unfair rules could see new fathers in Perthshire who are working for their benefits being left without any right to paternity leave to spend time with their new baby and partner.
“Not only does the Westminster system demand people work for free but they won’t even get any time off to be with a new born child - and if they do take time off, they will sanctioned.
“The sanctioning of benefits for a new parent who is in a workfare programme is grossly unfair and really undermines families at a vulnerable time when they should be supported.”
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