Maternity leave around the world?

[LadyJeanne]

One of the NationStates issues that came up today was about maternity leave and it made me curious about how the world handles that.

I know in the US, companies are required to give you 6 weeks of paid maternity leave. Some companies extend their obligation to giving paternity leave and will give up to 3 months of paid maternity leave. And my last company also gave some adoption leave - I'm not sure if that's paid or not. Companies also offer some unpaid leave as well.

How does the rest of the world handle it? For those that give longer leave, how do their employers handle the workload and guarantee jobs afterwards? Is the full leave paid?

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Good questions. So, you play NationStates, too?

What's your nation called?

 

[LadyJeanne]

The Rogue Nation of LazyJeannes is proud to be a part of the inimitable Empire of Literotica. We are a huge, environmentally stunning nation notable for its absence of drug laws and extensive civil freedoms.

https://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=376150&highlight=Empire+Literotica

 

[Selena_Kitt]

More than 120 Nations provide paid maternity leave

But this is a 1998 article...

as of 2003:

"In the EU, Sweden offers by far the most leave, at 96 weeks. Denmark, Italy, Finland and the UK also have generous provision, where women are entitled to up to 50, 47, 44 and 40 weeks' leave respectively. In contrast, German women are only entitled to 14 weeks' leave – a fraction of the Swedish allowance. Similarly, provision in Belgium is low, at 15 weeks.

Worldwide, Asian countries provide the least number of weeks' statutory maternity leave. Women in Singapore and Taiwan are entitled to just 8 weeks, and in Hong Kong, 10 weeks' leave. Maternity leave allowance in the US is also low, at just 12 weeks. In contrast, women in Australia and New Zealand are entitled to take up to 52 weeks' leave, while in Canada maternity leave is 50 weeks."

 

[LadyJeanne]

More than 120 Nations provide paid maternity leave

But this is a 1998 article...

as of 2003:

"In the EU, Sweden offers by far the most leave, at 96 weeks. Denmark, Italy, Finland and the UK also have generous provision, where women are entitled to up to 50, 47, 44 and 40 weeks' leave respectively. In contrast, German women are only entitled to 14 weeks' leave – a fraction of the Swedish allowance. Similarly, provision in Belgium is low, at 15 weeks.

Worldwide, Asian countries provide the least number of weeks' statutory maternity leave. Women in Singapore and Taiwan are entitled to just 8 weeks, and in Hong Kong, 10 weeks' leave. Maternity leave allowance in the US is also low, at just 12 weeks. In contrast, women in Australia and New Zealand are entitled to take up to 52 weeks' leave, while in Canada maternity leave is 50 weeks."

Wow - you'd think with such an emphasis on family values in the US, we'd pay more attention to actual families. Sweden seems the place to be if you want to have kids.

And I had no idea that FMLA didn't provide for any paid leave.

"In the United States, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 provided a total of 12 work weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for the birth of a child and the care of the newborn. FMLA applies only to workers in companies with 50 or more workers.

Some individual US states and possessions, however, do provide for paid maternity benefits, including Rhode Island, Hawaii, New Jersey, California, New York and Puerto Rico."

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Fascinating.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Fascinating.

Sucky!!!

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Wow - you'd think with such an emphasis on family values in the US, we'd pay more attention to actual families. Sweden seems the place to be if you want to have kids.

And I had no idea that FMLA didn't provide for any paid leave.

"In the United States, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) of 1993 provided a total of 12 work weeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for the birth of a child and the care of the newborn. FMLA applies only to workers in companies with 50 or more workers.

Some individual US states and possessions, however, do provide for paid maternity benefits, including Rhode Island, Hawaii, New Jersey, California, New York and Puerto Rico."

It is limited to businesses larger than that to avoid a crippling burden on small business.

 

[Lauren Hynde]

How does the rest of the world handle it? For those that give longer leave, how do their employers handle the workload and guarantee jobs afterwards? Is the full leave paid?

Hi, LadyJeanne-

As far as I know, this is what happens in Portugal:

- Maternity leave:
The working mother has the right (if she chooses) to 120 days of leave (4 months), 90 of which necessarily after the birth, with the other 30 being totally or partially before or after the birth, as the woman sees fit.

In case of twins, the woman has right to 30 extra days for each baby after the first.

In case there's medical risk before birth, the company is asked to move the woman into a position that doesn't put her or the baby at risk. If that isn't possible, the woman is entitled to maternity leave for as long as decided by medical prescription.

In case of clinical internment following the birth at any time during maternity leave, the time-count for the leave can be interrupted at the mothers request and resumed when she's released.

In case of (unprovoked) abortion, the woman is entitled to a leave between 14 and 30 days.

Following birth, 6 weeks of maternity leave is compulsory, whether the woman wants to or not.

- Paternity leave:
The working father has the right to 5 days leave any time during the first month after birth.

Furthermore, the father has the right to whatever leave period the mother would have, in case of:
- physical or psychic incapacity of the mother, for as long as necessary, unless than incapacity only comes 98 days after birth.
- death of the mother (also within the first 98 days).
- decision of the couple (i.e. they can decide that the mother will take leave during the first 60 days after birth and the father the 60 days after that, for example).


As for who pays for this, here is the deal. All companies have at all times (every month) to pay a percentage of any employee's salary to the state - for social security of that employee. During maternity or paternity leaves, the company is the one responsible to physically hand out the cash to the mother or father, but then they take it off from the total amount they would have to pay to social security. So, ultimately, it's social security and the national healthcare service that pays these leaves in full.

 

[LadyJeanne]

Hi, LadyJeanne-

As far as I know, this is what happens in Portugal:

- Maternity leave:
The working mother has the right (if she chooses) to 120 days of leave (4 months), 90 of which necessarily after the birth, with the other 30 being totally or partially before or after the birth, as the woman sees fit.

In case of twins, the woman has right to 30 extra days for each baby after the first.

In case there's medical risk before birth, the company is asked to move the woman into a position that doesn't put her or the baby at risk. If that isn't possible, the woman is entitled to maternity leave for as long as decided by medical prescription.

In case of clinical internment following the birth at any time during maternity leave, the time-count for the leave can be interrupted at the mothers request and resumed when she's released.

In case of (unprovoked) abortion, the woman is entitled to a leave between 14 and 30 days.

Following birth, 6 weeks of maternity leave is compulsory, whether the woman wants to or not.

- Paternity leave:
The working father has the right to 5 days leave any time during the first month after birth.

Furthermore, the father has the right to whatever leave period the mother would have, in case of:
- physical or psychic incapacity of the mother, for as long as necessary, unless than incapacity only comes 98 days after birth.
- death of the mother (also within the first 98 days).
- decision of the couple (i.e. they can decide that the mother will take leave during the first 60 days after birth and the father the 60 days after that, for example).


As for who pays for this, here is the deal. All companies have at all times (every month) to pay a percentage of any employee's salary to the state - for social security of that employee. During maternity or paternity leaves, the company is the one responsible to physically hand out the cash to the mother or father, but then they take it off from the total amount they would have to pay to social security. So, ultimately, it's social security and the national healthcare service that pays these leaves in full.

Which brings us back to the national healthcare issue. Sigh.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

http://www.nationstates.net/provisional_america

That's my country. In transition to a democracy.

 

[CharleyH]

Hi, LadyJeanne-

As far as I know, this is what happens in Portugal:

- Maternity leave:
The working mother has the right (if she chooses) to 120 days of leave (4 months), 90 of which necessarily after the birth, with the other 30 being totally or partially before or after the birth, as the woman sees fit.

In case of twins, the woman has right to 30 extra days for each baby after the first.

In case there's medical risk before birth, the company is asked to move the woman into a position that doesn't put her or the baby at risk. If that isn't possible, the woman is entitled to maternity leave for as long as decided by medical prescription.

In case of clinical internment following the birth at any time during maternity leave, the time-count for the leave can be interrupted at the mothers request and resumed when she's released.

In case of (unprovoked) abortion, the woman is entitled to a leave between 14 and 30 days.

Following birth, 6 weeks of maternity leave is compulsory, whether the woman wants to or not.

- Paternity leave:
The working father has the right to 5 days leave any time during the first month after birth.

Furthermore, the father has the right to whatever leave period the mother would have, in case of:
- physical or psychic incapacity of the mother, for as long as necessary, unless than incapacity only comes 98 days after birth.
- death of the mother (also within the first 98 days).
- decision of the couple (i.e. they can decide that the mother will take leave during the first 60 days after birth and the father the 60 days after that, for example).


As for who pays for this, here is the deal. All companies have at all times (every month) to pay a percentage of any employee's salary to the state - for social security of that employee. During maternity or paternity leaves, the company is the one responsible to physically hand out the cash to the mother or father, but then they take it off from the total amount they would have to pay to social security. So, ultimately, it's social security and the national healthcare service that pays these leaves in full.

I have never been pregnant, but .... a friend of mine received 1 year off. 80% pay, but it dropped at 6 months I believe to 75 or 70%. She still retained her 4 week vacation, so got 4 weeks full pay at the end of that year for the previous year. Her husband was allowed to take Paternity leave, but I think it was a lesser time and can onl be consecutive within the same company/ organization. Her boss took adoptive leave, but I (and I can ask) I am not certain how long. It depends on the company. I am sure companies pay for this, although I did work in a more government thing than a corporate one. I also know that we now, in Canada, have hmm, impending death leave? Where if a loved one is dying you can take a number of insured weeks off? Not sure about the cap though. This is new as far as I know.

Again payment? I paid an insurance due on every paycheck?

 

[LadyJeanne]

Edited to say never mind...I started a new thread as the feminism topic seemed separate from maternity leave, though possibly related.