Grandparents in Sweden will be able to take paid leave to care for their children in a groundbreaking legislative change.
Swedish parents can now transfer their maternity or paternity leave to friends and family who will be able to take time off work and care for children while still receiving 80 percent of their salary.
Seniors Minister Anna Tenje said The telegraph: “These changes allow parents to shape their own lives, while fostering stronger bonds between children and both parents or other close relatives.”
Sweden already had a generous parental leave system, offering 480 days.
It was the first country in the world to allow paternal leave in 1974 and only 17 percent of fathers with children born in 2017 chose not to take advantage of this benefit.
Fathers can now transfer their parental leave to grandparents in groundbreaking law introduced in Sweden (File Image)
Swedish lawmakers (pictured in the Swedish Parliament in March 2023) decided that starting July 1, fathers will be able to transfer up to 45 days of their paid parental leave to a friend or family member, while single fathers and mothers can transfer up to 90 days
While some politicians have already taken advantage of the changes, such as the Moderate Party’s Andreá Hedin, who transferred her paid parental leave to her aunt, others have expressed concern.
Lena Hallengren, a member of the opposition Social Democratic Party, criticized her as a nanny state policy.
Starting July 1, parents can now transfer up to 45 days of their paid parental leave to a friend or family member, while single parents can transfer up to 90 days.
The law has also been updated to increase the number of “double days,” when both parents can take leave together, from 30 to 60.
‘Double days’ can be used until the child turns 15 months, an increase from 12 months.