The Irish government has taken a significant step toward recognising a deeply personal but often overlooked experience in the workplace. A new proposal published on gov.ie sets out the General Scheme of the Pregnancy Loss Leave Bill, aiming to create a statutory right to paid leave for employees affected by pregnancy loss before 23 weeks gestation.
Issued by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, the measure reflects a wider shift in Ireland’s public policy landscape, where workplace rights, Health supports and Social Protection issues are increasingly being addressed in a more compassionate and structured way. If enacted, the Bill would provide a dedicated legal entitlement separate from sick leave and maternity leave.
Pregnancy Loss Leave proposal on gov.ie: what the Bill would do
Under the published scheme, the proposed legislation would introduce five days of paid leave per year for a person who experiences pregnancy loss prior to 23 weeks gestation. The leave would require medical certification.
Key provisions in the proposal include:
- A day-one right to take pregnancy loss leave
- A 13-week service requirement to qualify for payment
- A standalone statutory entitlement, distinct from maternity leave and statutory sick leave
- Employment protections for workers who use the leave
- A review of the legislation three years after enactment
The scheme also states that employers with an existing pregnancy loss policy that is more favourable overall would not be required to duplicate the statutory arrangement.
Why this matters for workers and employers
The proposed Pregnancy Loss Leave framework is designed to address a gap long identified by campaigners, researchers and workplace rights advocates. For employees, it offers formal recognition of a loss that is often experienced silently. For employers, it creates greater legal clarity around how this kind of leave should be handled.
As with other employment protections overseen across Ireland’s regulatory system, future disputes or compliance questions could potentially intersect with bodies such as the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), while public guidance may later appear across gov.ie and related state service channels.
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What informed the Pregnancy Loss Leave scheme
The draft Bill is heavily informed by the PLACES Report, a study by the Pregnancy Loss Research Group at University College Cork. The report examined pregnancy loss under 24 weeks in workplaces and found that, despite being one of the most common adverse outcomes in pregnancy, it frequently receives little formal acknowledgement in professional settings.
The government said the proposal also responds to policy demand seen in recent Private Members’ Bills, including:
- The Organisation of Working Time (Reproductive Health Related Leave) Bill 2021
- The Pregnancy Loss (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2025
This places the issue within a broader national conversation involving Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Health, Justice and wider public administration, including how state-backed employment rights evolve through legislation and consultation.
How the proposal fits into Ireland’s policy system
While the Bill comes from the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, its real-world implementation could connect with multiple parts of government over time, including the Department of the Taoiseach, Revenue Commissioners, Health Service Executive (HSE) and Citizens Information Board for public information and administrative guidance. In that sense, the proposal is another example of how gov.ie functions as the central platform for major Irish policy announcements.
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FAQs on the Pregnancy Loss Leave Bill
How much leave is proposed?
The General Scheme proposes five days of paid leave per year for pregnancy loss before 23 weeks gestation.
Will employees qualify immediately?
The right to take leave would be available from day one of employment, but payment would require 13 weeks of service.
Is this the same as sick leave?
No. The proposal makes clear that it would be a separate statutory entitlement, not part of statutory sick leave or maternity leave.
Will medical proof be needed?
Yes. The leave would require medical certification under the proposed scheme.
What happens next
The publication of the General Scheme on gov.ie is an early but important stage in the legislative process. Drafting of the full Bill would follow, along with further political and legal scrutiny. If enacted, the measure would mark a notable development in Irish employment law by giving formal recognition to pregnancy loss in the workplace.
For workers, employers and policymakers alike, the Pregnancy Loss Leave proposal on gov.ie signals a more compassionate approach to employment protections in Ireland—one that recognises that care, dignity and legal clarity must go hand in hand.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
