Young mothers would benefit hugely if statutory paternity leave was extended to eight weeks, a father has argued. 

Currently, new fathers are entitled to a minimum of two weeks off in the first six months of their child’s life. 

However, many young families feel two weeks is woefully inadequate and have launched a petition calling the Government to increase the statutory minimum to eight weeks. 

Some 3,000 people have signed it and the petition’s author, Shane O'Connor, said most of them are women. 

“When you get to give your signature, you're also offered an opportunity to tell a bit of your story,” he told Lunchtime Live. 

“70% of the people that have signed the petition, we almost have three thousand two hundred now, have been women. 

“Most women have been mams, who have had C-sections, and really [go] into the trouble and the problems that come with postpartum care, especially after a C-section and their partner being expected to go back to work after two weeks.”

Mr O'Connor added that two weeks is the “minimum possible under EU law”. 

“We lag well behind other European countries, especially Sweden, Spain, Iceland.” he said. 

“I know, for example, in Sweden, parents can divvy it up between themselves and they have to take at least a minimum of six months.”

Main image: Young father at home holding his newborn baby. Pictur by: Jozef Polc.