LONDON (AP) — An improved maternity policy will feature in the new contracts of professional female players in English soccer from next season.
Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship players going on maternity leave will be entitled to 14 weeks at 100 per cent of their regular salary and any additional pay, before reverting to the applicable statutory rate, the English Football Federation announced on Tuesday. .
Previously, any improvements were at the discretion of the club, with the standard minimum being statutory maternity pay. Even then, a player had to have been at a club for at least 26 weeks to qualify. Under the new policy, there is no minimum eligibility period.
The FA said the policy would form part of a club’s licensing criteria to play in its leagues and must be offered to players to ensure those requirements are met.
“It’s just another step in the right direction,” said Chelsea manager Emma Hayes. “We have so much catching up to do in our game, whether it’s about the opportunity, whether it’s about the disposition behind the scenes.
“For me, he’s the one who I think is needed in the world game, not just in England.”
The contracts will also improve injury and illness cover and conditions for contract termination due to long-term injury, bringing them in line with standard contracts for male players.
“The welfare and well-being of players has always been our number one priority and this new policy ensures that players are better supported, whether on maternity leave or following a long-term injury.” , said Kelly Simmons, director of the FA. women’s professional game.
The players’ union and the FA are still discussing further steps to achieve contract parity between male and female players, including around the possibility of a club extending a contract.
“The current notification period in the standard WSL contract could leave some players in limbo at the end of their contract,” said Marie-Christine Bouchier, director of women’s football at the Professional Footballers’ Association. “Players can find themselves in a situation where their contract has expired, but their club can wait another week to decide whether to activate the option or release the player.”
In the men’s game, clubs must notify players that they intend to exercise the extension option by the third Saturday in May or four days after their last game of the season, with contracts running until the 30 June.
“We are confident that this will be corrected imminently, but again, this is only a fundamental issue of fairness,” Bouchier said.
In the United States on Monday, the National Women’s Soccer League Players Association said it had accepted its first-ever collective bargaining agreement.
The CBA runs through the 2026 season. Among the provisions is a minimum wage of $35,000 — an increase of nearly 60% — with annual increases of 4%. All players will see increased salaries, pension contributions, life and health insurance, and housing.
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