PARENTAL LEAVE AND CARERS LEAVE: INTERNATIONAL PROVISION AND RESEARCH
Appendix 2: Employment-related eligibility criteria for paid parental leave, where applied
|
Country |
Employment-related eligibility criteria for paid parental leave, where applied |
|---|---|
| Austria | All employees (n.b. no payment associated with parental leave, but since 2002 parents can receive childcare benefit) |
| Belgium | One year's employment with same employer over the last 15 months. Self-employed not eligible |
| Canada | Depending on jurisdiction, 12 - 13 months employment, mostly continual. Some categories of casual workers excluded, as are most self-employed, and employees who have not yet worked 600 hours since their last Employment Insurance claim. Quebec includes self-employed who have earned CAN $2,400 in the 52 preceding weeks |
| Czech Rep. | No special requirements, but formal approval needed from employer |
| Denmark | As maternity leave - i.e. for an employee, eligibility based on 120 hours in 13 weeks preceding the paid leave. Workers with temporary contracts excluded only if they are not eligible for unemployment benefit. For self-employed workers (including helping a spouse) eligibility based on level of professional activity within the last 12 month period, of which one month immediately precedes the paid leave. Eligibility includes people who have just completed a vocational training course of at least 18 months, or are doing a paid work placement as part of a course. Students are entitled to an extra 12 months educational benefit (same amount as maternity benefit). Unemployed people are entitled to benefits from insurance, and those on sickness benefit continue to receive it (same amount as maternity benefit). |
| Estonia | Eligibility for paid maternity leave for all employed mothers, including self-employed and those on temporary contracts of at least three months. Parental leave = childcare leave, all parents eligible. Two types of benefit payments - Parental benefit for 315 days followed by Childcare benefit |
| France | Eligibility for based on one or two years' work for same employer prior to birth. Different payment regimes re children born before Jan 2004 and those after, with longer qualifying period of work associated with fewer children. |
| Germany | All parents gainfully employed at birth eligible for means-tested Childrearing Benefit if not employed more than 30 hours a week. After 7 months, level of benefit reduced for those above very low income |
| Iceland | All people who have been economically active prior to childbirth; three months paid leave per couple following maternity and paternity leave |
| Italy | All employed workers, except domestic workers and home helps. Self-employed generally entitled to three months. The father is entitles to leave even if the mother is not in the labour force |
| Norway | Eligibility requires employment for six of the last 10 months prior to delivery, and sufficient income to have earned at least half the basic national insurance benefit payment over the previous year. Non-employed women receive flat payment |
| Slovenia | Parental leave available to all, but eligibility for payment depends on insurance contributions over the preceding three years. Those not insured at the time the leave starts, but who have contributed for at least 12 months in those three years eligible for lower payments |
| Sweden | All parents entitled to paid parental leave, but payment level depends on income level over the 240 days before due date of birth. A parent remains qualified for highly paid parental leave if an additional child is born or adopted within 30 months of the birth or earlier adoption of a child |
Sources: Table 1 published in Moss and O'Brien (2006:54), with details for Austria from country notes in Deven and Moss (2005).