Finland: Akava unions asks the government to bring paternity leave up to six months

Most parental leaves are taken by women.  According to the Finnish social security (Kela), mothers take, in average, nineteen months after their first child is born. On the other hand, 90% of men simply take the statutory three-week paternity leave.  Currently, parental leave in Finland is organized as follows: for four months, mothers receive daily benefits based on their income.  Paternity leave is restricted to three weeks.  Then, the law provides for the possibility for one of the two parents to go on to another parental leave for 6 months maximum (158 business days), where the employees receive 75% of their salary for the first 30 days. In addition, if the father decides to use his paternity leave at the end of the parental leave, he gets an additional month. Combined, these leaves can be used up to the tenth month.  If the child is kept at home after that, the parents can ask for home childcare benefits which can be paid until the child is three.
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s to go on to another parental leave for 6 months maximum (158 business days), where the employees receive 75% of their salary for the first 30 days. In addition, if the father decides to use his paternity leave at the end of the parental leave, he gets an additional month. Combined, these leaves can be used up to the tenth month. If the child is kept at home after that, the parents can ask for home childcare benefits which can be paid until the child is three.

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