Council backs campaign for employed Carers to be given unpaid leave
Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Councillors unanimously backed a motion calling for employed unpaid Carers to be given a right to unpaid leave from work.
A parliamentary Bill, the Carers Leave Bill, proposed by Lib Dem MP Wendy Chamberlain is currently going through the House of Commons. It's aim is to give employed Carers up to a week's unpaid leave from work for caring responsibilities.
Hinckley Lib Dem Councillor Michael Mullaney proposed a motion calling on the Council to support the Carers Leave Bill. Michael said "Over two million people in the UK including thousands of people here in Hinckley and Bosworth are in paid work whilst providing unpaid care.
"Unpaid Carers in work save the taxpayer a huge amount of money in care costs. The least we can do is help them to balance their work and care responsibilities by giving them a week's unpaid leave.
"I'm glad the Borough Council unanimously supported the Carers Leave Bill and I hope it passes through Parliament and into law.
Mark Bools Lib Dem Councillor for Newbold Verdon and Desford said "The burden placed on unpaid carers has left many overwhelmed and in need of more help and support for themselves.
"This bill aims to give reassurance to those working unpaid carers that if they need time off they can do so without the fear of repercussions. Unpaid carers do some much to protect our underfunded care system and it is vital we support them in anyway we can."