Spain: from 01 January 2017 paternity leave is to be extended from two to four weeks

As of 01 January 2017, paternity leave will be extended from two to four consecutive weeks regardless of whether the child is born to the family, is adopted, or fostered. The measure is to ‘match the need for better work life balance’, stated a government spokesperson during a presentation of the soon to be implemented draft, albeit five years behind schedule.
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The law has intended to implement longer paternity since 2011. The 2007 equality law (c.f. article No. 070242) had instigated 15 days paid leave, 13 of which were paid for by the social security services and two days paid for by employers and the text had stipulated that the two week period could be extended to four weeks within an overall period of six years. Since 2009, a new equality law (c.f. article No. 090918) complemented the 2007 law and established four weeks paternity leave with the a

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