Parents will be able to share up to a year's leave to look after their newborn children under radical reforms.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg will say today that from 2015 the UK will move to a new system of flexible parental leave.
The right to request flexible working will be extended to all employees to encourage different work patterns for parents.
A mother will be able to trigger leave at any point so that whatever time is left to run on her original year off can be taken by her partner instead.
Parents will be able to "chop up" time together or take time off together, as long as no more than 12 months is taken in total, with no more than nine at guaranteed pay.
"More and more men are taking on childcare duties, or want to, and flexible leave builds on that," he will say.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: "The reforms will make it easier for parents to choose how they want look after newborn children."
Meanwhile, MPs on the Commons Business, Innovation and Skills Committee, are calling for women from all walks of life to suggest changes to help prevent workplace discrimination.
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