Parental Leave - What's New?
January 31, 2011 2:54 AM Subscribe
I am looking for articles about new developments in parental leave schemes around the world, especially non-English-speaking countries. I am aware of developments in Britain and Australia (but would welcome better articles if there are any).
The wikipedia entry on parental leave compares policies across the world.
I assume you're already familiar with that entry, but wanted to share it for the benefit of those who aren't. I'm in the US and it fills me with an animal rage just thinking about how uncivilized America is about this.
posted by ellenaim at 4:44 AM on January 31, 2011
I assume you're already familiar with that entry, but wanted to share it for the benefit of those who aren't. I'm in the US and it fills me with an animal rage just thinking about how uncivilized America is about this.
posted by ellenaim at 4:44 AM on January 31, 2011
Response by poster: Thank you, yes. What I am looking for are new developments, changes that have happened within the last year or so are happening right now, rather than descriptions of the status quo.
I did find the article about Sweden intriguing though.
posted by Omnomnom at 5:07 AM on January 31, 2011
I did find the article about Sweden intriguing though.
posted by Omnomnom at 5:07 AM on January 31, 2011
Here's an article from my home country: Norway’s Minister of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion, Audun Lysbakken, wants fathers to take 14 weeks paid leave with their young children. He’s looking forward to benefitting from his own policy, as he gets ready to take off for four months to look after his daughter Aurora. It touches on new rules and quotas, and is from October.
posted by Harald74 at 6:07 AM on January 31, 2011
posted by Harald74 at 6:07 AM on January 31, 2011
Response by poster: Very cool, Harald...do you know if the plan to expand to 14 weeks is still on?
posted by Omnomnom at 6:17 AM on January 31, 2011
posted by Omnomnom at 6:17 AM on January 31, 2011
Apparently Norwegian men working at sea on international voyages (presumably only on Norwegian-flagged ships?) will now be entitled to seven days paid paternity leave, "putting them on the same footing as other workers" (except not Norwegian men working at sea on domestic voyages, to whom this deal does not apply). My source for this refers to a deal between Norwegian trade unions and the Norwegian Shipowners' Association, and mentions a magazine called Maritime Logg, which may or may not exist; if you can read Norwegian there might be more information available in a pdf here (I can't read Norwegian so I don't know).
posted by Lebannen at 8:46 AM on January 31, 2011
posted by Lebannen at 8:46 AM on January 31, 2011
I tried to find you a source in English, but try machine translation on this: The Conservatives want the earmarked father's share of the parental leave to be freely distributable. The gist of it is that ten weeks is earmarked daddy at the moment, and the Conseravtives (Høyre) feel that the excact distribution is better left up to the individual family. Party leader Erna Solberg was strongly against this, but lost the vote. The Progress Party (Fremskrittspartiet) is with the Conservatives on this one, so a Conservative or coalition majority at the next election will probably make this law. Note that there is no discussion whatsoever of cutting down on the parental leave as a whole, even in what passes for right-wing circles here in Norway.
Apparently the trend in Sweden, where Norway basically got the idea for earmarked paternal leave, is to increase the father's share, according to this opinion piece on family politics. Conservative Germany (again, by European standards) are trying out earmarked paternal leave at the moment. The Council of Europe are recommending that all EU member nations adopt it (BTW, Norway is not part of the EU). In Iceland, where they are discussing austerity measures after their economic meltdown, limiting the father's quota is not even considered.
According to this article from later in October, the 14 week extension is still on the table for the current term for the red/green coalition government.
posted by Harald74 at 12:58 AM on February 2, 2011
Apparently the trend in Sweden, where Norway basically got the idea for earmarked paternal leave, is to increase the father's share, according to this opinion piece on family politics. Conservative Germany (again, by European standards) are trying out earmarked paternal leave at the moment. The Council of Europe are recommending that all EU member nations adopt it (BTW, Norway is not part of the EU). In Iceland, where they are discussing austerity measures after their economic meltdown, limiting the father's quota is not even considered.
According to this article from later in October, the 14 week extension is still on the table for the current term for the red/green coalition government.
posted by Harald74 at 12:58 AM on February 2, 2011
Apparently Norwegian men working at sea on international voyages (presumably only on Norwegian-flagged ships?) will now be entitled to seven days paid paternity leave,
As I read it that is a week off when the child is born, presumably allowing them to fly home from wherever and be present during birth and giving the new mum a hand in getting settled with the new baby.
posted by Harald74 at 1:04 AM on February 2, 2011
As I read it that is a week off when the child is born, presumably allowing them to fly home from wherever and be present during birth and giving the new mum a hand in getting settled with the new baby.
posted by Harald74 at 1:04 AM on February 2, 2011
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posted by lesli212 at 3:04 AM on January 31, 2011