Basque parents are in luck. A month ago the Basque Government announced that it will raise the paternity leave for its officials to 18 weeks, which is currently four weeks in Spain, and now the Minister of Employment and Social Policies, Beatriz Artolazabal, announces the intention to extend this measure to twelve weeks to the private sector.
The Minister has proposed in the Basque Parliament to introduce a economic benefit intended to cover paternity leave with an amount equivalent to 100% of the contribution base in the private sector, except for the payment of Social Security. Thus, the paternity leave in the private sector could be extended up to three months.
The period would extend for twelve weeks, within the first year of the baby's life and without this time coinciding with the maternal leave. According to Artolazabal, could be a reality next year.
This is a modification of the decree on aid for the reconciliation of family and work life whose objective is to increase paternity leave and thus prevent women from leaving the labor market, trying to reduce inequality and the wage gap.
This is an alternative to "reduced" state paternity leave and would be added to the measure already announced by the Basque Government with which it is intended to match maternity and paternity leave among officials.
More help for families
The counselor also said that work will continue to improve the economic benefits aimed at families with children remembering that the amendment of the decree is being processed "to extend the aid received by the second child from two to three years."
It will also be proposed, in the reform of the Law 18/2008 for the Guarantee of Income and Social Inclusion, measures to improve the treatment given to family units with dependent children under the Social Emergency Assistance (AES) and Income Guarantee Income (RGI).
For example, you search reduce the minimum registration period two years in the case of families with minors in charge for the perception of the RGI, the Increase in the currently existing complement for single parents within the framework of the RGI and the establishment of a complement within the framework of the RGI in the case of victims of violence in the family.
In search of equality
Undoubtedly, this implies a look towards Europe, thus expanding equality in maternity and paternity leave.
Given that Spain has one of the lowest maternity leave, 16 weeks, along with Belgium, Germany, Croatia, Slovenia and Sweden, much remains to be done.
Nor should we forget the need for extend maternity leave to at least six months which has been claimed for years, in order to maintain exclusive breastfeeding that both the World Health Organization and the Spanish Association of Pediatrics recommend.
In spite of everything, as far as parents are concerned, if we compare ourselves with Europe we are not in the worst of situations in the face of countries such as Holland, Greece, Austria and Luxembourg, which offer parents only 2 days of leave, or Italy where parents only have one day.
Hopefully this news will soon be effective and paternity leave will be extended in all sectors, not only in the Basque Country but at the national level.
- Via | The vanguard
- In Babies and more | If you live in Spain and have a baby in 2018: you will have one more week of paternity leave. Citizens and PP reach an agreement, the real beneficiaries of paternity leave are the children
