Parents are entitled to reduce their working hours for a period of six months at any time until the child's eighth birthday. This reduction in hours is unpaid, unless reduced hours take a lone parent below social assistance level. Employees must have worked for their employer for one year prior to taking parental leave. New Zealand Unpaid parental leave of up to one year can be taken by families. Parents must have been employed by the same employer for at least 12 months, working at least ten hours per week.
Parents taking up to four weeks' leave have a statutory right to return to their previous job.
However, if an employer decided the job is a key position, then the employee has no right of return, although any similar jobs arising in the following 6-month period must be offered to the employee. Norway Parental leave of up to 52 weeks is available to families, although four weeks of this must be taken by the father. If the parent was unemployed prior to taking parental leave, they receive a daily minimum benefit. Parents are allowed to use some of their parental leave to reduce working hours until the child is at school. Portugal Six to twenty four months of parental leave are available with the first 98 days being paid maternity leave.