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| Country | Year | Parental leave arrangements
| Parental leave pay | Take-up
| Emp rates | Other leave arrangements
|
|
| Austria | Parental leave introduced in 1990
| Family leave—F/t leave until child is 18 months—2 years if both parents take leave.
| Yes—flat-rate pay; higher rate for lone parents and low incomes. Pro-rata—p/t leave.
| 90 per cent women
1 per cent men (Demos)
| 67 per cent mothers and
93 per cent fathers
| None. |
| Belgium | 1998 | Individual leave—3 months F/T leave, or up to 6 months P/T up to child's 4th birthday.
| Yes—flat-rate pay. | In 1st 6 mths 97 took leave,9 per cent male (NWW)
| 65 per cent mothers and
91 per cent fathers
| Career break scheme—up to 5 years' if unemployed person taken on. 3 days paternity leave (4 days in public sector), 100 per cent pay.
|
| Denmark | 1984 | Family—10 weeks' f/t family leave + 13 weeks' individual childcare leave up to age 8.
| Family leave—flat rate @ 100 per cent unemployment benefit Childcare—flat rate—60 per cent UB
| 1996—28,326 women & 2,253 men (92 per cent women) (NWW)
| no data available | Childcare leave doubled from 13 to 26 weeks where taken before child is one. 10 days paternity leave—100 per cent UB
|
| Finland | 1980 | Family—26 weeks per family
| Earnings related—43-82 per cent earnings—higher precentage for lower paid.
| 99 per cent women, and 2 per cent men | 70 per cent mothers and 86 per cent fathers
| Childcare leave up to child's 3rd birthday—flat-rate pay; option for reduced hours.
|
| France | 1985 | Family—f/t leave up to child's 3rd birthday; p/t option.
| None for first child; flat-rate for second & subsequent births; reduced for p/t option
| No data | 62 per cent mothers and 89 per cent fathers
| 3 days' paternity leave to be taken within 15 days before and after birth.
|
| Germany | 1986 | Family—f/t leave up to child's 3rd birthday; p/t option.
| Yes—flat-rate until child is 2, subject to income ceiling.
| 1995-96 per cent women and 2 per cent men (NWW)
| 58 per cent mothers and 89 per cent fathers
| |
| Greece | 1986 | Individual right—3 months f/t leave—but only where 50 or more employees.
| No pay. | No data | 49 per cent mothers and 94 per cent fathers
| |
| Ireland | 1998 | Individual right—14 weeks to be taken before child is 5; can take leave in shorter blocks.
| No pay. | No data | 43 per cent mothers and84 per cent fathers
| |
| Italy | 1977—amended 1998
| Family—10 months f/t leave until child is one—4 months to be taken by each parent.
| Earnings-related—30 per cent of earnings.
| No data | 44 per cent mothers and90 per cent fathers
| |
| Luxembourg | 1998 | Individual right to 6 months f/t or 1 years p/t leave before child is 5, but 1 parent must take PL after maternity leave.
| Yes—but for one parent only—flat-rate for 6 months.
| No data | No data. | Option for one parent to claim low flat rate pay for up to 22 months—no guarantee of re- employment.
|
| Netherlands | 1991 | Individual right to 6 months' p/t leave—must work at least 20 hours.
| None. | No data | 57 per cent mothers and93 per cent fathers
| |
| Portugal | 1984 | Individual right to 6 months' f/t leave until child is 3—longer for 3 or more children.
| None | No data | 71 per cent mothers and92 per cent fathers
| |
| Spain | 1994 | Family—12 months f/t leave—can be shared.
| None | No data | 39 per cent mothers and86 per cent fathers
| Option for further 2 years' leave but no guarantee of re- employment.
|
| Sweden | 1974 | Individual right to 18 months f/t leave—until child is 8. Options for shorter periods and p/t.
| Yes—family entitlement—Parental allowance per family: 360 days at 80 per cent earnings & 90 days flat-rate. Father must take 30 days' or it is lost.
| 90 per cent women and 10 per cent men but 50 per cent men take some leave
| No data. | Two weeks' paternity leave, paid at 80 per cent earnings. Parents may work 75 per cent working hours during child's first year at school (unpaid).
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