#PaternityLeave

In a groundbreaking push for gender equality and better parental support, British fathers are being urged to join the world’s first “Dad strike”, amplifying demands for more generous paternity leave in the United Kingdom, where statutory provisions remain among the lowest in Europe. The movement is set to culminate in a public protest with fathers and their babies outside the Department for Business and Trade in London on June 11, aiming to pressure the government into reforming policies for dads and non-birthing partners. The campaign reflects growing international attention to the critical role of fathers in early childhood and the wider debate about work-life balance amid changing social norms.

British fathers are organizing the world’s first “Dad strike” to demand broader, better-paid paternity leave. The protest outside the Department for Business and Trade in London on June 11 aims to press the government for reforms that support dads and non-birthing partners. The movement underscores the growing recognition of fathers’ essential role in early childhood and the ongoing work-life balance debate.

For Thai readers, the issues resonate with Thailand’s own family policy debates and evolving family structures. In the UK, eligible fathers and non-birthing partners currently receive only two weeks of leave at a rate below the minimum wage, and self-employed co-parents receive no state support. In contrast, mothers can receive up to 90% of their average weekly earnings for the first six weeks, followed by a fixed rate for the next 33 weeks. Campaigners say these gaps reinforce gender inequality and limit children’s access to parental care. Research cited by advocates emphasizes the broader social costs of insufficient paternity support.