France: paternity leave will double, from 14 to 28 days
The reform on the extension of paternity leave should enter into force on July 1, 2021 Philippe Huguen / AFP
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In France, the duration of paternity or childcare leave will be reduced from 14 to 28 days.
The country will thus make up part of its delay compared to the best European students.
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This reform will allow France to move from a median position in Europe to the peloton of leading countries, with Spain, Sweden, Norway or Portugal,
" said the Elysee.
President Emmanuel Macron is to officially announce the extension of paternity leave this Wednesday, September 23, during a trip to a mother and child protection center in Essonne.
The reform will appear in the Social Security financing bill, which parliamentarians will examine in the fall.
It should enter into force on July 1, 2021.
The executive follows, in part only, the recommendations made on September 8 by a commission of experts, chaired by the child psychiatrist Boris Cyrulnik and whose report recommended a
paternity leave
of nine weeks.
But the Élysée did not want to go so far, probably not to offend the employers who believe that in view of the current crisis, the time is not opportune to grant new rights to employees.
A fine of
7,500 euros
While today, more than a third of fathers do not benefit from their paternity leave - a stable proportion since its creation in 2002 - all second parents will have to take at least part of it: a few days or even a week. , the exact duration still being discussed with the social partners.
In any case, during this period, the company will not have the right to make the employee work, under penalty of being fined 7,500 euros.
This doubling of childcare leave will cost the State at least 250 million more euros next year, and twice as much in 2022. The daily allowances paid by Social Security will not be increased.
Some parents, however, give up taking these days because they consider the amount of their remuneration too low.
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