Paid time off work for people undergoing IVF and fertility treatment.

Reproductive health is a deeply personal issue. In Ireland, around 14,000 women will experience a miscarriage each year, and around one in six couples will experience fertility issues.

We believe everyone should have access to paid time off work for fertility treatments like IVF.

For far too long, women have had to remain silent in their workplaces about the grief of early miscarriage; or have had to use their annual leave to attend appointments for IVF treatments. We need to provide women – and men – with support in the workplace, where they are struggling with fertility or other reproductive health issues. 

In 2021, Labour introduced legislation that would support people to take time off work in the case of an early miscarriage, or to access fertility treatments. Since Labour first published this Bill, we have been deeply moved by the testimony sent by people across Ireland. We need to provide leave to women when they need it most and ensure that our workplaces take account of our lived experiences as women.

Our hopes and dreams for our family do not exist outside of the hours of 9 to 5. They are always with us. This needs to be acknowledged in how we approach helping people in the workplace when they need it most.

Please sign our petition to push Government to make this change for all workers.