London: Fathers will be given up to 10 months of paid paternity leave under plans outlined today by Deputy Prime Minsiter Nick Clegg.

With backing from Prime Minister David Cameron, Clegg condemned "Edwardian" attitudes to childcare and traditional family roles.

His plans, which business leaders last night described as a "complete nightmare", go even further than those championed under Labour by Harriet Harman.

Parents will be allowed to divide between them almost all of the existing 12 months of maternity leave. They may even be able to split the time off into stretches as short as a few weeks.

The proposal has been a key coalition demand for Clegg, who has often spoken of his wish to be a hands-on father to his three children.

He claimed it is "madness" to deny men the chance to stay at home and look after their children while mothers go back to work.

At present, women are entitled to six weeks of maternity leave on 90 per cent pay, followed by 33 weeks on statutory maternity pay of £125 (Dh729.5) a week.

In total, they can remain off work for up to a year. Men are allowed two weeks of paternity leave, on statutory pay.

Impact on business

Andrew Cave, of the Federation of Small Businesses, said: "This is the wrong measure at the wrong time. The government says it wants businesses to take on more staff but this sort of thing just throws up more obstacles. Maternity leave is already the most complex aspect of employment law for many businesses and this risks making it a complete nightmare.

"Businesses will have to co-ordinate with other employers to work out whether parents have used up their allowance — it is a complete minefield."

The new paternity laws could see new fathers entitled to 10 months of paid paternity leave.

Adam Marshall of the British Chambers of Commerce, said the proposals could prevent employers from taking on staff.

"This may be politically popular but it's going to cause great difficulties for small and medium-sized businesses," Marshall said.

"You have to question how this squares with all the business-friendly rhetoric coming out of the government.

"If parents are able to take leave in chunks of a few weeks it is going to make it virtually impossible for small businesses to plan," he added.

What do you think of this? Do you think other countries should consider making a similar move? Tell us what you think at readers@gulfnews.com