Six Countries Implementing Paid Paternity Leave Policies

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Paternity leave refers to a period of absence from work offered to a father after the birth of a child. In Indonesia, the issue of paternity leave has recently garnered public attention following the proposal of the bill on the welfare of mothers and children (RUU KIA).

In an effort to foster quality human resources, the House of Representatives (DPR) proposed the KIA bill, which provides for 40 days of paternity leave and a maximum of seven days of leave to accompany a wife who has suffered a miscarriage. The bill is currently under discussion and review.

Paternity leave is usually shorter than maternity leave and can be either paid or unpaid. Below is a list of six countries with paid paternity leave policies:

1. Japan

Japan has more progressive policies on paternity leave, granting new fathers a whole year of paid leave, although many companies offer flexibility through shared parental leave, according to The Guardian.

This leave is completely separate from that given to mothers and is accompanied by a portion of benefits paid through the government's social security program. The amount of pay depends on the length of the leave, with the first half, or 180 days, being paid at 67 percent of the employee's regular salary, while the remaining 50 percent is paid by the Japanese government.

2. Lithuania

Northern European countries have gained considerable attention for their generous leave policies, but Lithuania may have an even more impressive policy. New mothers are granted a partial leave of 18 weeks (126 days), while new fathers are granted 30 days.

Both parents have parental leave that can be taken until the child is three years old (with the father guaranteed a non-transferable two-month leave). During this time, they can receive 60 percent of their salary for 18 months, or 45 percent and 30 percent of their salary for 24 months. The remaining days of leave are unpaid.

3. Sweden

Sweden offers 480 days of half-paid paternity leave. The country encourages parents to share their leave. The paid parental leave varies, starting at 80 percent of an employee's regular salary.

4. Iceland

Iceland extends the combined duration of maternity leave and paternity leave to 12 months in 2021. This period can be divided equally between mothers and fathers, each taking six months. Parents will also be able to transfer a maximum of one month of their leave to their partner, bringing the total to seven months and five months, respectively. Those who take the leave will receive 80 percent of their annual salary. Before January 2021, parents were entitled to three months of non-transferable leave each.

5. Estonia

Estonia provides two weeks of paternity leave with full pay. New fathers and mothers also have the opportunity to take an additional 435 days of shared parental leave.

6. Spain

Since 2021, Spain has introduced 16 weeks of paternity leave, similar to maternity leave. In addition, fathers will be able to take this leave at the same time as maternity leave, with the first six weeks after birth being compulsory leave, while the remaining 10 weeks can be taken flexibly during the baby's first year. Same-sex couples are also granted the same rights, allowing one partner to take paternity leave while the other takes maternity leave. During this leave, 100 percent of the salary is paid.

ANGELINA TIARA PUSPITALOVA

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