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Spain’s parliament has given the green light to an extension of parental leave, with maternity leave increased from 16 to 17 weeks and the addition of two fully paid weeks for childcare until children reach the age of eight. The decree, which came into effect on July 31 following Council of Ministers approval, now has majority congressional support - the lone dissenter being Vox.

 

The new rules apply to children born from August 21 2024 and cover salaried employees, self-employed workers, and civil servants. Parents benefit from an extra week of parental leave plus two weeks of paid childcare leave on top of the previous eight weeks of unpaid leave permitted under Spanish law.

 

Single-parent families gain even more: their parental leave extends from 16 to 28 weeks during the baby’s first year, with four of the eight childcare weeks paid. Altogether, single parents, who are 80% women, can access up to 32 weeks of paid leave.

 

Despite official celebration from Third Vice President and Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz, who hailed the changes as “a cultural shift” advancing work-life balance for around one million people in the first year, the extension has drawn criticism. Government coalition partners argue the measures remain “completely insufficient” and fall short of the 20 weeks or four weeks’ pay that had been sought by the left-wing Sumar party.

 

Critics also say the government acted hastily just to avoid hefty European Union fines, which could have reached €40,000 per day, due to delays in transposing the relevant EU directive.

 

Díaz urged lawmakers to “put aside partisan controversies” and focus on family care policies as a matter of state importance. “We have to decide what we do with family care in our country,” she said firmly during debates in Congress.

 

While the extension is modest, it does mark Spain’s continued commitment to widening parental leave and supports increased flexibility for families balancing work and childcare.

 

 

Image: Danik Prihodko/Pexels