A GLASGOW MP is bidding to win bereaved parents the legal right to compassionate leave when a child dies.

Tom Harris, Labour MP for Glasgow South, is proposing a bill to amend employment rights to ensure all parents are given enough time off work while grieving.

Mr Harris said he was moved by a case of a father forced to return to work five days after the death of his son, just before the boy's second birthday.

While most reputable employers will allow more time there is no legal obligation on them, Mr Harris said, and he wants the law changed.

He added he was surprised to learn there was no legal right, only guidance under the 1996 Employment Rights Act.

He said: "In the immediate aftermath of a child's passing, bereaved parents must cope not only with their own grief, but that of their family. Siblings must be comforted, family and friends informed.

"To add to the burden, a great deal of administrative work and other arrangements must be undertaken.

"A funeral needs to be organised; schools and benefit offices must be notified.

"However, there is no set limit on how many days can be taken, only a vague definition of 'a reasonable amount of time'. Each employer will have their own bereavement policy, which is typically just three to five days."

Mr Harris has not specified how long the minimum period should be. Instead he said that would be considered in a consultation period if his bid is successful.

He said he already has support from Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs, and many Labour colleagues.

He is backing the campaign group Jack's Rainbow, a charity set up by bereaved mum Lucy Herd, whose husband had to return to work after five days.

The campaign has tens of thousands of signatures calling for statutory bereave-ment leave and many cases of parents forced back to work only days after losing a child.

Mr Harris said: "The government has stated that it would be difficult to the outline the limits of statutory bereavement leave, because 'limits, standards and definitions' would need to be put in place.

"The government has also argued that it would be difficult to define 'what family relationship would qualify for such leave', and that it would be 'impossible to legislate for every circumstance'.

"I find this argument disingenuous. Surely the government should start from the moral case that parents should be afforded time off if their child passes away, not find excuses not to act."

stewart.paterson@eveningtimes.co.uk