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Opposition party likens ‘nanny state’ law change to a voucher system
Grandparents in Sweden can take paid parental leave, after the law was changed in what is believed to be a world first.
Families can transfer their maternity and paternity leave to friends and other family members, who have the right to take time off work at 80 per cent of their salaries, after the law change.
“These changes empower parents to shape their own lives, while also fostering stronger bonds between children and both parents or other close relatives,” Anna Tenje, the minister for the elderly, said.
These reforms were meant to help parents better balance their work and family life and allow them to make their own decisions tailored to their family dynamic.
Andreá Hedin, a Moderate Party politician, transferred her paid parental leave to her aunt Mariysa Sleszynska, who has no children.
“Women must be able to be both a mother and have a job to go to,” said the member of Sweden’s four-party Right-wing coalition government.
But Lena Hallengren, a former minister of social affairs and a member of the opposition Social Democratic Party, said the policy “sounds more like a nanny state” and a “voucher system”.
“Parental insurance is for parents to stay at home with their children,” she said.
Parents can transfer up to 45 days of their maternity or paternity leave. Single parents can transfer 90 days, under the changes, which entered into force on July 1.
The number of “double days” – the days when both parents can take parental leave together – has increased from 30 to 60. Parents can now use these double days until their child is 15 months, up from the previous limit of 12 months.
Even before the benefits were improved, Sweden had a generous system. It offers a total of 480 days, 1.3 years, with 390 of those at 80 per cent of pay for a single parent. Two parents are entitled to 240 days each.
Sweden was the first country to introduce paid parental leave for fathers in 1974 and only 17 per cent of fathers who had children born in 2017 had not used any of their allowance.