Parental Leave

Parental leave is an individual right for workers to take time off work to care for a child. Directive (EU) 2019/1158 establishes a minimum of four months of parental leave per parent, of which at least two months are non-transferable between parents and must be paid at an adequate level determined by the Member State. This non-transferable and paid component is a key innovation designed to encourage fathers to take parental leave, thereby promoting a more balanced distribution of care responsibilities and reducing gender gaps in employment. In Bulgaria, while extensive maternity and childcare leave provisions exist, specific amendments to the Labour Code and Social Security Code have introduced paid parental leave for fathers, aligning with the Directive's non-transferable paid component.

Parental leave (Föräldraledighet) refers to the statutory right of an employee in Sweden to take time off from their employment for various reasons connected to parenthood. This includes full-time leave following childbirth or adoption, part-time leave with reduced working hours while receiving parental benefit, and leave for the temporary care of a child. The Parental Leave Act (1995:584) regulates the conditions, duration, and protections associated with these types of leave, ensuring job security and non-discrimination for parents.