This booklet explains employees’ rights to paid and unpaid parental leave from work when they are having a baby or adopting a child under six years old. These rights are provided in the Parental Leave and Employment Protection Act 1987 (the Act).

This free booklet from the Department of Labour tells you about how the main provisions in the Act apply to employees. It covers:

• entitlements for employees under the Act
• the procedures to follow when applying for leave
• the requirements around returning to work.