This new paper from Carers NI sets out the case for including paid carer's leave in Northern Ireland's pending Employment Rights Bill; looks at different options for designing a paid carer's leave policy; and models the potential cost and economic benefits for the NI Executive and UK Exchequer.

Key findings:

• Unpaid carers in Northern Ireland are much less likely to be in full-time employment than the general adult population – 1 in 3 have had to give up employment because of caring responsibilities.
• Being forced out of employment because of the pressures of caring is contributing to widespread poverty and financial strain among carers – 44% of carers in Northern Ireland have lost out on over £1,000 per month in average wages due to leaving work or reducing their hours and more than half of unemployed carers here are living in poverty.
• Central estimates suggest that providing 5 days of fully paid carer’s leave for employees in Northern Ireland would cost the Executive between £10.3-£15.2 million per year.
• If the introduction of carer’s leave had only a minimal impact on carer employment rates in Northern Ireland, the NI Executive could still save at least £4.3 million per year in Carer’s Allowance payments, while the UK Exchequer could retain £5.9 million per year in income tax and National Insurance Contributions.