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Statutory maternity leave arrangements (1) – end 2003 Statutory / other Maximum duration Country Paid Austria Statutory Belgium Denmark Finland Statutory Statutory Statutory France Statutory Germany Statutory Paid for full duration Yes Yes (weeks) 16 (20 if medical circumstances) 15 (17 if multiple births) Yes Yes Yes Yes 18 Yes Yes 105 days (excl.
Sundays) = around 17,5 weeks 1st/2nd child : 16 3 or more : 24 34 to 46 if multiple births 14 (18 if multiple births) Yes Yes Yes Yes Greece Hungary Statutory Statutory 17 24 Yes Yes Yes No Statutory Ireland Statutory Italy Luxembourg Statutory Netherlands Statutory Norway 26 21 (5 months) 16 (20 if multiple birth) 16 48 maximum (3) Yes No (18 paid) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Payment 100% Paid by State/HI Jobs guarantee Yes 30 days : 82% after : 75% up to maximum 90 % up to maximum (3115 Dkr per week) 100 – 60 % (4) Decreases with earnings Min : 11,45 euros per day 100 % up to maximum (2432 euros per month) HI HI Employer HI 100% 100% Pre-natal (min.
4 weeks) : 70 % Next : allowance (see table) 70% with minimum and maximum 80% 100 % (with minimum and maximum) 100% up to maximum Different according to total parents leave 48 weeks : 80% or 38 weeks : 100% (up to maximum 341000 NOK)) HI (up to 13 euros per day) + employer HI/employer HI State HI HI Unempl.
fund State Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 1rst child : 16 2 or more : 18 multiple births : 24 17 Yes Yes 100 % HI / employer Yes Yes Yes 100% with a minimum State Yes 1 No specific maternity leave Statutory parental leave Statutory Poland Portugal Statutory ?
Yes Yes Yes Slovakia Statutory 28 (37 if multiple birth) Yes Yes Yes Yes 90% net wage up to a low maximum (350 SKK / day – 7500 SKK /month) 100% HI (social insurance fund) State Slovenia Statutory Spain Statutory Sweden UK No specific maternity leave Satutory parental leave Statutory 105 days (15 weeks) 16 (18 if 3 or more) 420 days (480 to be shared, of which 60 not transferable) Yes Yes 100% Yes Yes First 390 days : 80% (up to a maximum - minimum of SEK 150 per day).
Next 90 days : SEK60 per day State State 52 Yes No (26 paid) First 6 weeks : 90% then final 20 weeks : £100 per week or 90% av.

weekly earnings if lower Employer (refunded for most part) Yes EMP : has to be working/employed to be eligible QP : qualifying period : employed have to be in work (unemployed have to be unemployed) for a certain amount of time within a certain reference period to be eligible.
SSC : A certain amount of Social Security contributions must have been paid for the claimant WT : working time has to be over a lower limit.

Earnings : employees has to be earning a certain amount to be eligible HI : health or social insurance ED : employers discretion (1) private sector employees.

In many countries (e.g., Belgium, Greece…), civil servants have more rights.

Self employed often have less favourable statutory schemes.
(2) the employed qualify on the basis of a qualify period and social security contributions, the self employed on the basis of social security contributions only and the registered unemployed qualify on the basis of the reference period only with days in unemployment counting as equivalent to working days.

(3) 52 weeks parental leave of which 4 reserved to the father (9 are reserved to the mother and the rest may be shared).

(4) Complex calculation.

Only few people are entitled to full compensation.


The average compensation is lower than 80%.

Sources : EIRO national centres answers to study questionnaire on “Family and parental leave provision and collective bargaining” (November 2003).
2 Maternity allowance (*) and maternity grants (**) in place of or in supplement to statutory maternity pay – end 2003 Country Austria Allo wanc e Yes Belgium Denmark Finland Yes No Yes France Germany Yes No in 2004 Yes Greece Yes Hungary Yes Ireland Italy Yes Yes Allowance (*) Eligibility Details self in and Women not covered by statutory maternity pay : employed (1) agriculture, trade industry.
(2) others (low part time, free service contract worker) Self employed maternity leave - Not entitled incomes related benefit due to low/no income to means tested (around 80 % of families are eligible) To women not entitled to statutory maternity allowance Not insurance.
Means tested State aid All mothers after birth and during maternity leave Pre-natal medical exams entitled social to (1) 23 euros per day during 16 weeks maternity leave in order to hire a substitute (2) 6,91 euros per day during 16 weeks 889 euros per month during three months - Guarantees a minimum benefit of EUR 11.45 /day for 105 days of maternity leave and subsequent 158 days of parental leave During 9 months from the 5th month of pregnancy 159 euros per month 210 euros per month 500 euros in two parts (half for a period of 42 days before birth, half for the 42 days after birth) 225 % of minimum pension (around 196 euros per month in 2003) No employment records and not entitled to statutory maternity leave Means tested at household level 272 euros per month during 5 months for each child born or adopted (1358 euros in total) Paid by municipality through State Gran t Yes Grant (**) Eligibility Details Mutter-Kind-Pass-Bonus income related; on condition on mother and baby medical examinations Payment on child’s first birthday Yes Birth grant No Yes - All residents over 154 days) (pregnancy 945 for first child 711 for subsequent children - Choice between a generous maternity pack or lump sum payment (140 euros) No Yes in 2004 Yes Yes No No Yes new scheme in 2004, means- tested, such as to include 90 % of families ‘Entbindungsgeld’ mothers in maternity leave having Insured mothers worked at least 50 days in the year before the birth for statutory 800 euros once at birth 30 days minimum wage (but amounts vary
 highly in other social security regimes) - To unemployed and atypical workers not entitled to statutory maternity leave (also to a certain extent to those entitled) - 1672 euros per child paid by health insurance 3 Allowance (*) Eligibility Details Country Luxembourg Allo wanc e Yes Not entitled to maternity benefit.
insured Netherlands Norway No No - - Poland Yes Social assistance recipients Portugal Slovakia - No Yes Women not entitled to paid Slovenia Yes Spain No Sweden Yes UK Yes allowance statutory maternity leave.

Parental parents not maternity leave allowances - eligible for to The mother may use 60 days of parental leave (480 days) before the birth employed or self employed for a certain period and not statutory to entitled maternity pay.
or under minimum earnings requirements allowance paid for 16 weeks, similar Non-cumulative with benefits (185 euros per week) - Four first months of child’s life Minimum : 50 PLN per month - Paid leave (lower amount) 52 % of guaranteed salary SIT 35000 in 2002 (adjusted with price) - 80% pay up to maximum (see tables on maternity and parental leave) 26 weeks: 90% of av.

weekly earnings up to a max.


of £100/week Gran t Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Grant (**) Eligibility Details mother and child have medical examination to - Women not entitled statutory parental leave (1) Social assistance recipients (in the past : all mothers) - For each child born.
1536 euros divided into three 512 euros lump sums: prenatal, birth and postnatal (child’s 2nd birthday) - NOK 33584 (around 4077 euros) 195 PLN (one time childbirth benefit) - Lump sum SKK 3,110 Assistance for goods for a newborn child SIT 50000 third or more Birth of children and multiple births.

income-related child benefit - - either partner getting income support, based income jobseeker’s allowance, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit.

Lump sum payment : £500.


Can claim from 30th week of pregnancy until 3 months after.

(*) Maternity allowance : amount of money paid at interval for a certain period after a child is born.

(**) Maternity grant : lump sump amount paid once at or around the childbirth.

(1) In this situation parental leave for father is reduced to 29 weeks fully paid or to 39 weeks paid 80%.
Source : various, especially EIRO national centres answers to study questionnaire on “Family and parental leave provision and collective bargaining” (November 2003).
4 Statutory paternity leave arrangements (1) – end 2003 Country Statutory Criteria No of days Paid Paid for full duration Level of payment Job guarante e Austria Belgium No statutory paternity arrangements (but collective agreements generally providing for one or two days) (5) Statutory EMP Yes Yes Denmark Statutory EMP Finland Statutory Universal right France Statutory EMP 10 days to be taken with 30 days after birth (or adoption) May be split.

4 days for civil servants.
2 weeks to be taken within 14 weeks after birth 18 week days (3 weeks) (extended up to 1-12 days conditional on taking as many days in parental leave) 2 weeks (3 weeks if multiple births) Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Luxembour g Netherlands Norway No statutory paternity arrangements EMP Statutory 2 days 5 days EMP Statutory No statutory paternity arrangements (but 3 paid days leave are used to be granted by employers at birth) Limited cases Statutory total leave or the part which mother is ill for 2 days at child’s birth EMP + Only if lone father or if mother ill. Income related EMP Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Statutory No specific paternity leave.
Statutory parental leave provision EMP EMP/QP for both parents 4 week father’s quota depends on mothers employment prior to birth.

No father’s quota if mother has worked less than 50 % full-time.
2 days (within a month after birth) Minimum : 4 weeks father‘s quota reserved to father (out of 52 weeks parental leave) (+ 2 weeks unpaid leave after birth) Yes Yes Yes Yes Maximum paid leave = 43 weeks (2) (33 weeks 100 % pay) (3) If the mother not in employment, the father is allowed only 38 weeks (28 weeks 100% pay) 3 days : 100% (employer) Next : 82 % up to max.
(health insurance) 90 % up to maximum 100 - 60% (same rules as maternity leave) may be fragmented (day) 3 first days : 100% Next maximum : 100% up to 100% ?
(social security ) 80% by health insurance also in case of adoption 100 % (employer) 100% - 100% if both parents take up to 42 weeks (up to maximum 341000 NOK) (28 weeks if mother not employed) - 80 % if 52 weeks (38 if mother not employed) - reduced compensation of father’s quota if mother between 50 and 75 % full- time work Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 5 Country Statutory Criteria No of days Paid 1rst child : 2 weeks maximum (16 – 14) 2 and more : 4 weeks maximum (18 - 14) Yes Paid for full duration Yes Level of payment 100% Job guarante e Yes Poland Limited cases Portugal Slovakia Statutory Limited cases Slovenia Statutory EMP Part of maternity leave over 14 weeks may be transferred to father EMP Actually, maternity leaves when mother suffers long-term illness EMP Spain Statutory EMP Sweden Statutory EMP UK Statutory EMP/QF (26 weeks) 5 days in first month after birth 22 weeks (or 31 weeks) Yes Yes Yes Yes 100% 90% net wage up to a low maximum 90 days of which 15 days obligatorily during maternity leave, the remaining until child is 8 2 days (+ 2 days if another town) (10 weeks maternity leave may be transferred to the father if both parents fulfil conditions) 10 days after the child's birth to be used during and simultaneously with the mother 2 weeks to be taken by blocks of one week within 8 weeks of birth days first the 60 Yes No Yes Yes : 100% First 15 days (State) Next 75 days : 0% (4) 100% (employer) Yes Yes 80% up to maximum Yes Yes Yes £100/week or 90% of earnings if this is less Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes (1) Details on paternity leave provision is for private sector employees.
Self employed are often excluded from paternity leave provision.

(2) 52 weeks parental leave of which 9 reserved to the mother (4 are reserved to the mother and the rest may be shared).

(3) 42 weeks parental 100% paid leave of which 9 reserved to the mother.

(4) Social contributions are paid by the State on the basis of minimum wage.
EMP : has to be working/employed to be eligible QP : qualifying period : employed have to be in work for a certain amount of time within a certain reference period to be eligible.

Source : Various, especially EIRO national centres answers to study questionnaire on “Family and parental leave provision and collective bargaining” (November 2003).
6 Statutory parental leave arrangements – end 2003 Country Duration Statutory type Child’s age limit Payment Other Austria Parental leave 2 years taken alternatively by parents by periods of 3 months (except one month that can be taken simultaneously).

2 years also if simultaneous part time 4 years if lone parent part time or both parents work part time alternatively 2 years (possibility to postpone 3 months up to 7 years old).
Separate benefit of 14,53 euros per day in 2003 for a period that may be longer than the parental leave : 30 months (or 36 months if both parents take it alternatively) Possibility to cumulate with low wage (earnings up to 14600 euros per year) Belgium Parental leave 3 months per parent per child (6 months if half time work) (15 months if 80 % part time work) 4 8 if disabled Denmark Parental leave 32 weeks per child to be shared (in continuation of maternity, paternity or even other’s parent parental leave) + individual right of 8 unpaid weeks (possibility to spread 32 weeks payment over total 40 weeks leave) 9 (possibility to postpone 8-13 weeks in one block before the child is 9) Separate flat rate leave benefit not specific to parental leave 537 euros per month (full time leave) 268 if half time work A total of 32 weeks 90 % up to maximum (3115 DKR per week) to be shared.
Part time work possible Independent right for father to a minimum of 3 continuous months (before 2002, dependent on mother’s renunciation).

Priority to the mother for the remaining rights.

6 months leave for adoptive parents (child’s age limit is 30 months if adopted between 18 and 24 months, 7 years if adopted after 2).

Full time leave may be taken in three blocks of one month.

80% part time work may be split in blocks of at least 3 months.
Leave also for adoptive parents Only if no use of right to place in childcare Possibility to work part time with payment accordingly reduced Job guarante e Yes (only for 2 first years leave) Yes Yes 7 Country Statutory type Duration Child’s age limit Payment Other Finland 1) leave Parental 1) Under 1 1) Around 60% (same rules as maternity allowance) leave 1) 158 days (approx 26 weeks) after shared maternity between parents (paternity leave bonus if father takes part of parental leave) to be 2) 3 years old 2) up to 3rd birthday of younger child taken after paid parental leave 3) Right to part time work to care for child until the second school year (average 8½ years) 3) Around 8½ 2) Homecare leave (if child not in municipal childcare) 3) Part time France Parental 1) leave 1) 3 years per parent per child (one year renewable twice) 1 year if adoption 1) 3 2) Part time 2) Right to part time for reconciling family and work 2) No Germany Parental leave 3 years per parent per child 2 first year of the child, and the third year before the child is 8 (upon approval of the employer) Parents living together can take leave simultaneously if part-time work (15-30 hours).
upon 3 (8 employer’s approval) 8 if adoption for : 252,28 2) basic allowance child + €/month first subsequent 84,09 €/month (if under 3 years) or 50,46 €/month (if over 3 years) + a means-tested supplement of maximum 168,19 €/month for one child only + possible municipal supplement hours.

+ 3) Salary is reduced according to reduction an in allowance of 70 € / month 1) Separate benefit per household : if 2+children, and worked certain numbers of years.
Not working : 495 euros per month Part time : 328 under ½ FT work and 248 up to 80% FT work (part time amounts to be increased by 15 % in 2004).
Separate benefit during first 2 years (means tested and income related) Maximum amount : Choice between 307 euros per child and month during first 24 months or 460 euros during 12 first months Job guarante e Yes (for all types) 1) extended in case of multiple births by 60 days per additional child Part parents Also for adoptive parents time possible for both Yes 1) Benefit to be extended in 2004 for 1rst child, for a maximum duration of 6 months (340 euros per month) cannot be 2) employer unless strong reasons refused by Part time possible between 15 and 30 hours per week (only firms over 15 employees).
Lone parent working up to of 30 is entitled hours maximum parental leave Fragmented employer’s approval Also for adoptive parents upon only Yes 8 Country Statutory type Duration Child’s age limit Payment Other Greece Parental leave 3,5 months per parent 3.5 Unpaid Hungary unpaid 1) Up to child’s 3 year 1) leave 2) care fee 2) Up to child’s 2 year (to parents on unpaid leave fulfilling previous insured qualifying period).
1) 3 2) 2 3) Child raising support 3) If 3 and more children, with youngest child between 3 and 8 3) 8 1) Unpaid (there exist a separate low care allowance of around 87 euros per month) 2) 70 % up to a maximum of around 332 euros per month 3) minimum old age pension (around 87 euros per month in 2003) Ireland Parental leave Italy Parental leave Luxembour g Parental leave for the 14 weeks per parent (in one block unless employer’s agreement) 11 months per child to be shared follows: 6 between parents as months maximum for the mother and 6 months father, extended to 7 if the father claims at least 3 months.
10 months if lone parent 6 months per parent per child (12 months if work under 50 % full time) to be taken for one of the parent after maternity leave, before 5th child’s birthday for the other parent 5 Unpaid Child under 3 : 30% for 6 months maximum.

30% over 6 months only a incomes maximum.


Child aged 3-8 : unpaid below if 1693 euros per month during 6 months if full time (846 euros per month during 12 months if part time) 8 (6 adoption) if To be taken after maternity leave or before 5 year for the other parent in case of separation, Part-time only upon employer’s approval.

Also for adoptive parents Also divorce or death of one parent 2) also adoptive parents.
For those not fulfilling previous working condition, there exist a low care allowance of around 87 euros per month.

3) prolongs de facto low care allowance for 3 and more families possibility to work part time up to 4 hours a day Also in case of adoption No part time Also for adoption Duration of paid leave up to 3 year for severely handicapped child.
Also 3 months 30% paid leave for self employed during first child year To be taken in one block Part time only on employer’s approval supplementary 2 months if multiple birth time full Job guarante e ?
Yes Yes Yes Yes 9 Country Statutory type Duration Child’s age limit Payment Other Netherlands Parental 1) leave 2) Right part time to 1) 3 months per parent per child (6 months if half part time work) One parent at a time (mother has priority) 1) 8 (or later upon employer’s approval) 2) right to change working time 2) no also Norway (see maternity and paternity leaves) 1) Paid parental leave 1) 42 or 52 paid weeks per child to be shared, of which 4 are reserved for the father and 9 for the mother.
4 father’s weeks dependent on mother’s employment : if less than 50 % full time work, no father 4 weeks quota ; if 50-75% full time, compensation adjusted accordingly.

1) 3 2) supplementary unpaid leave 3) part time Poland Parental Leave 2) 1 year for each parent per child to be taken after paid leave (2 years for lone parent or for father if mother not in employment).

2) 2 3) Time account scheme enabling parents to combine paid parental leave and part-time work)– up till 104 weeks.
3 years per parent 1) Unpaid except civil servant (75%) or favourable collective agreements 2) wage reduced accordingly.

No statutory compensation.

1) 42 weeks 100% or 52 weeks at 80% (including 9 weeks maternity and 4 weeks’ father’s quota) (maximum limit is annual income of NOK 341 000) 2) Unpaid 3) to be combined with paid parental leave.

318 PLN per month 4 (18 chronic illness disability) if Means-tested benefit at household level.
For a maximum duration of 3 years or Job guarante e Yes 1) Flexibility : leave to be taken in blocks of at least one month.

Also 4 months adoption unpaid leave (for child up to 12) 2) also right to increase working time The sharable period (39 or 29 taken weeks) may simultaneously parents working part time.
be by Yes to be taken in no more than four blocks Yes 10 Country Statutory type Duration Child’s age limit Payment Other Portugal 1) leave Parental 1) 3 months per parent (6 months if part time) 1) 6 1) Unpaid 1) part time possible Job guarante e Yes 2) 2 years 2) Special leave to care for children (3 years for 3+ children, 4 years if handicapped child) Slovakia 3) Part time Parental leave Up to child’s 3rd birthday 3) one more child under 12 Individual right to be taken after maternity leave Slovenia 1) leave Parental 260 days for only one parent 2) Part time Spain Parental leave 3 years per parent per child (but only one parent at a time) 2) 6 12 time if part 3) 12 3 (6 if disabled child) 1) 8 (18 child) if sick 2) Unpaid 2) possibility to work part time 3) also right to flexible hours the parent SKK 3790 per month (SKK 1200 is if working or receiving sickness benefit) 1) 100% (55% minimum wage if employment less than 12 months prior to leave) 22 weeks leave for adoptive parents Yes to up Not used paid leave may be transformed, the equivalent of 5 months, for childcare or housing cost.
Also adoption leave (up to 150 days) 2) 3 (18 medical reason) 3 (6 time) if part if 2) no (only social contributions are paid on the basis of minimum wage) Unpaid Part time Reduction of daily working time between 30 and 50 % Sweden Parental leave 1.5 years (480 days to be shared between the parents, 60 days reserved to each parent) 6 (or disabled) 8 UK Parental leave 13 weeks per child (18 if disabled and both working parents) maximum 4 weeks per year by blocks of no less than one week 5 No First 390 days : 80%.
(up to a maximum; with a minimum of SEK 150 per day).

Next 90 days : 60 SEK a day Unpaid Parental leave is fully flexible : may be divided in full days, half, 1/4, 1/8 (one hour).
Same leave for adoptive parents Long prior maternity leave (52 weeks) Adoptive parents have right to paid statutory maternity leave and unpaid parental leave (for child under 18) Yes Yes (stronger if leave not over one year) Yes Yes 11 Source : various, especially EIRO national centres answers to study questionnaire on “Family and parental leave provision and collective bargaining” (November 2003).
+ COM 2003 (358) final 12 Statutory leaves to care for sick children – end 2003 Country Type Duration Child’s age limit Payment Other Austria Short leave Sick children and relative care leave 1 week per year a second week per year if child up to 12 and under certain conditions No children relatives) 100% (for and Job guarante e Yes Unpaid (unless exceptions) Part-time work possible Yes Longer leave Family emergency leave 3 months (renewable once) Belgium Short leave Leave for “imperious reasons” 10 days per year (heavily No sick child or dying relatives) No (for child and relatives) paid illness, and a In case of accident hospitalisation of relative Other longer leave up to one year with flat rate benefit Denmark Finland No statutory but collective agreements 1) Short sick child leave (most collective agreements provide for at least a paid leave for the child’s first day sick ; often supplementary paid leaves to care for a child) 1) 4 per sick child for one parent at a time (for each event) 1) 10 1) not compulsory by law, but many collective agreements provide for a 100% payment for 3 to 4 days.
Yes 2) Short unpaid leave 2) ?

for family urgent reasons 2) (relatives) no 2) unpaid Long 3) For chronically ill or disabled child needing daily care 3) ?
3) (child disability) 3) Minimum around 60 % (same rules as maternity leaves) 13 Country Type Duration France Short 1) 3 days per parent per year 1) sickness (5 days if child under 1 year or if 3 or more children under 16) 2) leave Long 2) 1 year (4 months renewable twice) for sick, disabled or accident (+ need of care) 3) Other Germany Short leave Greece Short leave 3) 6 months (3 months renewable) when a relative’s life is at stake (end of life, serious accident or illness) 10 per parent per child per year up to maximum of 25 per parent per year Lone parents : 20 per child per year up to maximum of 50 per year 6 days per year 8 days per year if 2 children 12 days per year if 3 or more children Child’s age limit 1) 16 1) Unpaid Payment Other 2) 20 3) No relative) (any 12 16 : 2) Flat rate separate benefit amount varies with family type and number of hours.
Full-time leave : Couple 810 euros per month.

Lone parent 961 euros per month.

Lower amounts if part-time.
3) Unpaid 70% gross earnings, 90% net maximum (health insurance) Unpaid supplementary 2) A separate benefit for handicapped child also exists with a higher if permanent amount care is home necessary (930 euros per month) at Further in leaves agreements sick child collective Hungary 1) leave Short 1) Unlimited if child under 1 1) 12 84 days per year if 1-3 42 days if 3-6 (84 if lone parent) 14 days if 6-12 (28 if lone parent) 1) 70 % if permanent job during previous 2 years 60 % otherwise 1) 2) Short supplementa ry unpaid 2) 1 child : 2 days per year / 2 children : 4 days per year ; 3 or more : 7 days per year.
2) 16 2) unpaid 3) long leave 3) 2 years (for sick or handicapped relative 3) no relative) (any Ireland Short leave 3 days per year per parent per child (in a limit of 5 days each 3 year) 5 3) very low : 80 % of old age pension, that is around 70 euros per month Paid 2) in supplement to 1) 3) possibility to work part time up to 4 hours a day Long leave 65 weeks ‘homemaker scheme’ to care for a child o relative (or 12 handicapped or over 12 child or other relative) Unpaid (maybe cumulated with earning for a job up to 10 hours per week May be split Job guarante e Yes Yes Yes Yes (for all types) s Yes 14 Italy Luxembour g Netherlands Norway 1) Short leave (sick) Short 2) leave (handicappe d) Long 3) leave (severely handicapped ) Short leave Emergency leave Short leave Short leave Country Type Duration 1) Sick child under 3 : any duration Sick child aged 3-8 : 5 days a year per parent Handicapped child or parent : any duration 2) if child under 3 : any duration if child 3 and over : 3 days per child per month for the father or the mother 3) up to 2 years (continuous or split in days, weeks..).
Job guarante e Yes Child’s age limit 1) see column before No (relative) 2) no 3) ?

Payment Other 1) Unpaid 1) only one parent at a time 2) if child under 3 : paid on the basis of 2 hours per daily leave (around 20%) if child 3 and over : fully paid 2) only one parent at a time.
be cumulated with other leave May 3) 100 % up to maximum (36152 euros per year) not 3) may cumulated parental leave be with 2 days per year per parent per child (possibility of extension in case of exceptional gravity) 2 days per emergency event 15 100% No age limit 100% 10 days per year for sick child 1 or 2 children : 10 days per parent (20 days if lone parent).

3 and more children : 15 per parent (30 if lone parent).
Theses quotas are doubled if chronically ill or disabled child Poland 1) leave Short 1) 2 days per year per employee 2) 60 days per year (child up to 14) care 2) benefit for special leave Long 3) leave 14 days per year (child over 14 or other relative) Only cases of illness (or, if child under 8, problem of care, e.g.
with school/nursery) 3) up to 3 years children with chronic illness or disability No age limit 12 (18 if disabled child) 70% (30 % paid by State) 100% Leave may be taken also if the carer is ill 1) paid (100 % ?)
2) 80% 1) 14 2) no 3) 18 1) not conditioned on any or problem sickness 2) only if no other member of family may provide care Yes Yes Yes Yes 15 Country Type Duration Portugal Short leave Aged under 10 : 30 days per year (extensible if hospitalisation) Aged over 10 : 15 days (also for other relative) Slovakia Short leave Max.
7 working days per illness per child; 10 13 working days for lone parent Slovenia Sick leave to care for relative Spain Short leave 7 days per employee (15 days if child under 7 and handicapped child).

In case of need for longer care medical, commission could prolong the leave up to 30 days.
2 (+ 2 days if a travel is necessary) under presentation of (accidents, serious illnesses, hospitalisation, death) justifications Long leave Up to one year (or more if collective agreements) In case of accident/illness Sweden 60 days per child per year per parent Child’s age limit No 100% Payment Other In case of illness or accident A separate benefit exist for a parent caring a handicapped child (no limited duration) First three days 70% of net monthly earnings, next days 90%; up to a maximum SKK 350/working day 80% 15 (18/26 if in full time education) (any Paid No family member) Unpaid (any No family member) 12 (16 in special cases) 80% up to maximum Possibility also to use parental leave to care for sick child leave Other possibilities for disabled or very sick child Job guarante e Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes UK ‘reasonable’ leave if dispute with the employer on the leave and its duration, it is left to tribunal to determine what is ‘reasonable’.
16 (or 18 if in education f/t or training) Unpaid Source : various, especially EIRO national centres answers to study questionnaire on “Family and parental leave provision and collective bargaining” (November 2003).

+ COM 2003 (358) final 16