Everything you need to know about maternity and paternity leave in 2022

In recent months, the Ministry of Social Rights has put on the table the proposal for an extension of maternity and paternity leave in the draft of the preliminary draft of the Family Law. Said permit would gradually become six months. Starting in 2023, the increase would be two weeks each year, until reaching six months in 2026.

If it goes ahead, it will facilitate, among other things, the maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months recommended by the World Health Organization.

three key points

The proposal also includes the following key points:

In the case of single-parent families, the permit would be for one year, the sum of the two leaves. The beneficiary of this permit could cede half (six months) to a partner or family member, provided that he or she contributes to Social Security. Retirees, for example, would be excluded.

The current deduction for maternity in personal income tax would be extended, which would become a universal pro-rearing benefit of 100 euros per child, to encourage the birth rate.

However, these proposals have been left out of the 2022 General State Budgets, so their implementation is in doubt. What they do include is the creation of a new aid of up to 100 euros per month for each dependent child for families that receive the Minimum Vital Income (IMV) or have low income.

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Therefore, the duration and distribution for this year remain in the same conditions as in 2021.

Paternity and maternity leave

In Spain

Duration: From January 1, 2021, maternity and paternity leaves were equalized in 16 weeks, individual and non-transferable right. That is, if one of the parents does not enjoy all that time, it cannot be transferred to the other. Distribution: Of the 16 weeks, 6 of them are enjoyed after childbirth uninterruptedly and simultaneously by both parents. The rest, the other 10 weeks, can be taken later or postponed and distributed in an interrupted way in weekly periods, depending on the family organization. There is also the possibility of choosing a full or part-time regimen, prior agreement with the company. Of course, the limit to enjoy them is until the baby is 12 months old.

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Maternity and paternity leave in other countries

Iceland: in January 2021 they extended the leave from 5 to 6 months for each parent. A month and a half is transferable.

United Kingdom: the mother has a leave of 52 weeks (1 year), although 13 of them are without financial compensation. Only the first 2 weeks are mandatory (4 if she works in a factory). The father is entitled to 2 weeks, although as the mother's leave is transferable, this may be increased.

France: depends on the number of children you have. For the first and second child, the mother's leave is 16 weeks (6 before delivery and 10 after). For the third child, the leave reaches 26 weeks. This permit is mandatory and non-transferable. The father's permission is 25 calendar days.

Italy: maternity leave is 20 weeks (5 months) and is compulsory. Parents have 10 days of mandatory compliance.

Portugal: maternity leave of 120 consecutive days with the option to extend it to 150 if it is shared with the father, in which case there are an additional 30 days that the father must take.

Finland: maternity leave is 105 days (almost 18 weeks) and paternal leave is half that, 54 days (9 weeks).