Summary
The Department for the Economy has completed a public consultation on including a miscarriage criterion within Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay – the response document was published on Tuesday 20 January 2026.
The response document outlines the key outcomes of the public consultation and details the Department’s planned actions to implement the policy in accordance with the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022. These measures will come into effect on 6 April 2026.
The response document has been published below
Documents
- Miscarriage Leave and Pay Consultation - Departmental Response
- Consultation document - Miscarriage Leave and Pay
- Equality screening - Amendment of the Parental Bereavement (Leave and Pay) Regulations to include Miscarriage Leave and Pay entitlement
- Miscarriage Leave and Pay consultation regulatory impact assessment
- Miscarriage Leave and Pay consultation privacy notice
Consultation description
Closure of Miscarriage Leave and Pay Public Consultation Exercise
This consultation was conducted following the introduction of Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay legislation in Northern Ireland in 2022.
It sought feedback and views on the proposal to introduce Miscarriage Leave and Pay as an amendment to the existing Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay policy. Additionally, it asked for views on the requirements to Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay into a “day one” entitlement by removing the eligibility requirement for 26 weeks of continuous employment and reliance on previous earnings.
The consultation team can be contacted on: MLPconsultation@economy-ni.gov.uk
Ways to respond
Consultation closed — responses are no longer being accepted.