Finland is giving new parents more time to spend their babies. The Finnish government has decided to give mothers and fathers seven months parental leave. This means Finland will almost double the amount its maternity leave and paternity leave. The new Family Leave Policy will give 164 days to each parent. This is seven months. Parents can also transfer to 69 of their own days to their partner. This means it is possible one parent to take nine months parental leave. For single parents, Finland is giving all 328 days to the mother or father. Finland's current parental leave gives four months maternity leave, and two months fathers.
Finland's government said the new rules were necessary to help young families. Finland's Minister Social Affairs and Health explained why the country is introducing the new rules. She said: "The model guarantees the child a place the centre family benefits, and it promotes wellbeing and gender equality." It will also help to increase the country's declining birth rate. The number babies born Finland has dropped the past nine years. Last year, Finland had the lowest number babies born the country 1868. Finland's neighbour Sweden has the most generous leave policy, offering 240 days parent. The USA has no national paid leave mothers or fathers.
