Northern Ireland becomes first UK Region to introduce paid miscarriage leave

Northern Ireland has made history as the first part of the United Kingdom to introduce statutory paid leave for parents who experience a miscarriage, marking a significant shift in workplace rights and bereavement support.

From Monday, April 6, 2026, employees—including partners—are entitled to two weeks of paid leave following a miscarriage, whether due to spontaneous loss or medically necessary interventions for health reasons.

The new Regulations also make Parental Bereavement Leave and Pay a day-one right for all workers, removing the previous requirement of 26 weeks of continuous employment before qualifying.

Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said the move was about treating grieving parents with dignity.

“Parents who suffer the loss of a child should be treated with care and compassion,” Archibald said. “These new rights allow women who experience miscarriage and their partner to take up to two weeks of paid leave to grieve and to support each other during a very difficult time.”

She welcomed the Assembly’s approval of the Regulations, adding that the change “will make a meaningful difference to many women and families across the north.”

The two weeks of leave is paid at the statutory rate of just over £194 per week, or 90% of weekly earnings if that amount is lower.

Authorities estimate that more than 9,000 people in Northern Ireland are affected by miscarriage each year—either experiencing it themselves or supporting a partner through the loss.

The legislation positions Northern Ireland ahead of the rest of the UK, where paid miscarriage leave is not yet enshrined in law, though campaigners continue to push for similar measures in England, Scotland, and Wales.