A considerable step forward for gender equality. The Finnish government announced on Wednesday that a new measure on paternity and maternity leave will come into effect in September 2021, reports the American public radio NPR .
Each parent will have seven months' leave in the future, during which he or she will continue to be paid. Finnish women now have four months of maternity leave, compared to just two for men.
More equality and diversity
The Minister of Health and Business described the new measure as "radical reform". According to her, the objective is to fight against gender inequalities and to redress the declining birth rate. The law "allows more equality between parents and diversity within families," said the government minister led by Sanna Marin, the 34-year-old Finnish Prime Minister.
One of the parents will be authorized to transfer up to 69 days of their own leave to their spouse. The mother also has the possibility of starting her leave one month before the expected date of delivery. In France, the length of leave granted to fathers is 11 days, compared to 16 weeks for maternity leave when a first child is born, says Le Figaro Madame .
Society
Despite the 35-hour reform, women still do more housework than men
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