Baby loss awareness week and employer’s guidelines

That this House marks Baby loss awareness week 2023; acknowledges the grief and pain of bereaved parents and families and remembers the much-loved babies that have passed; recognises that although Northern Ireland is the first place in Europe to pass legislation so that parents who experience baby loss before 24 weeks of pregnancy are eligible for statutory paid leave that the implementation of this Act has been delayed due to lack of a Northern Ireland Executive; understands that the Government has yet to bring forward similar provisions; further notes that in its 2022 survey on pregnancy and baby loss in the workplace, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found that fewer than 26 per cent. of organisations had specific policies in place to support their employees; urges the Government to work with employers and industry bodies in all regions to develop guidelines and put in place policies; and calls on the Government to introduce a bill in the next parliamentary session.