NEW regulations allowing parents to share the care of their child in the first year after birth come into force today.
Westminster said as many as 285,000 working couples will be eligible to lodge applications from today, allowing parents to share leave from next April.
However, the move has been criticised by the SNP as it does not extend to Jobseeker's allowance claimants in mandatory work or a community placement.
UK ministers said the changes in how maternity leave can be used will kickstart a culture change in workplaces, with the hope that fathers feel more confident in taking time off for childcare.
Employment Relations Minister Jo Swinson said: "Up until now, families have had very limited options when it comes to juggling the demands of work with the arrival of a new baby. The old maternity leave system reinforced the archaic assumptions that the bulk of childcare responsibilities should be done by mums and failed to recognise the vitally important role that dads and partners have to play."
However, SNP MSP Christian Allard, a single father, said: "These unfair rules effectively leave new fathers who are working for their benefits without any rights to see their baby and partner whatsoever.
"Not only does the Westminster system demand people work for free but they don't even get any time off to be with a new born child - and if they go off anyway then they will sanctioned."
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