Changes to employment laws to introduce carer and neonatal leave

Employment (Amendment) Bill 2025 set for first reading in the House of Keys 

Proposed changes to the Island's employment laws relating to neonatal care leave and carer’s leave are due to be introduced to the House of Keys next week.

It's part of efforts to modernise and strengthen the Isle of Man's existing workplace legislation.

Where a child receives care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the proposed changes will see eligible parents able to claim up to 12 weeks of additional parental leave, linked to the duration of care. 

Meanwhile, a new two-tier statutory provision will allow employees to take leave from the workplace if they are unpaid carers. 

Firstly, for eligible carers, a period of one week of leave would be available each year, and secondly a longer-term leave provision would be available for those carers seeking to take extended leave from employment to help manage their caring responsibilities.

While there will be no obligation for these leave periods to be paid by the employer, the Department for Enterprise is working with Treasury to develop options for eligible individuals to access financial assistance during their period of leave.

The Employment (Amendment) Bill 2025 will have its first reading in the House of Keys on Tuesday, 2 December.

Enterprise Minister Tim Johnston says: ‘Bringing forward this new legislation is a step further in the Department’s commitment to supporting working families during difficult times and those who have care responsibilities whilst balancing their employment. These provisions assist in enabling people to stay in work in the long term and provide practical frameworks for employers, delivering wider socio-economic benefits for the Island.

‘Throughout this administration, we have worked hard to balance the needs of a changing workforce with those of employers, while keeping pace with developments in neighbouring jurisdictions.

‘We are committed to working with stakeholders in the future developments of the details of these new provisions and look forward to bringing these through the Tynwald branches.’