Petition · past parliament

Increase Maternity/Shared Parental pay in line with National Living Wage

Closed 606 signatures

What the petition asks

Currently Statutory Maternity and Shared Parental Pay (correct as at April 2021) is 90% of weekly wages for 39 weeks, capped at £151.97 per week from week 7.
Assuming a working week is 38 hours, £151.97 per week is £4 per hour, significantly lower than the National Living Wage of £8.91/hr.

We would like Government to raise Statutory Maternity and Shared Parental Pay so that from week 7 this at least matches the National Living Wage at 38/hrs a week:

We would like the Government to:

- Continue the first 6 weeks of pay at 90% average earnings
- Amend the following 33 weeks of SMP/ShPP to be £338.51 per week or 90% average earnings (whichever is lower), to reflect National Living Wage of £8.91 at 38 hours week

Employers could continue to offer enhanced pay as desired.

Timeline

28 Apr 2021 Petition opened for signatures
28 Oct 2021 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 606
Status Closed
Opened 28 Apr 2021
Closed 28 Oct 2021

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.