Parental leave is our fundamental means for the care of young children. Its parameters have a significant impact on the lives of parents. From what such leave is granted and what not, depends if the partners decide to have a child, or the one, or more, when you start a family, the couple who will pursue a career, and so on. „Young people in connection with childbirth fear most standards of living and repeal certain life plans. After these two facts follow other types of concerns: fear of job loss or limitation of opportunities for further career,“ said in a research report by the Institute for Work and Family in this year. That is why it is important to achieve a family policy, which would not stand in the way of creating family background while working implementation options for both parents. For example, allowing work during parental leave, as well as a contribution itself to the parent so requests.

 

„There is a lack of institutional alternatives to pre-school care as mini nursery or family professional carers,“ says Barbora Holubová , Institute for Work and Family. „If the family is not able to provide care from some relatives, the family  can get into serious financial situation. Parents must pay for childcare commercial price, or the woman has to give up work,“ adds Dušana Bieleszová Union of Mother Centres.

For child-care greatly influences the approach of the employer. He can provide support in various forms such as ensuring the free working hours, subsidizing school nurseries, miscellaneous contributions and support women in child-care leave. Integrating father custody is ultimately another important step in improving child care. „Creating emotional ties between father and child from an early age it seems as important as creating bonds between mother and child,“ says Bieleszová.  Often it depends on the income of both parents, that are still generally higher among males.

 

Interesting differences in European countries:

 

In other European countries there are different systems to support childcare, which are identified in the length of maternity and parental leave, the possibilities of their utilization in the amount of benefits and other benefits. For example, mothers in Spain, the Netherlands, France and Estonia receive during maternity 100 % of their previous salary. Some countries are more successful in the pursuit of equal inclusion of mothers and fathers in childcare or to provide sufficient space for the realization of mothers in the family and work. „The current trend is to reduce the total length of parental leave, with the least possible loss of family income due to birth and child care. Therefore the concurrence of care and labor is supported, as well as burden sharing loss of income and career breaks to both parents,“ says Barbora Holubová.  For example, in Portugal after maternity and compulsory paternity leave, parents are entitled to three months’ parental leave which may be taken either of them or both alternately. In Bulgaria, the father after the birth of a child is entitled to 15 days paid leave if he was a year previously insured. In Denmark parents after 14 weeks maternity leave have the same entitlement to an additional 32 weeks ‘parental’ leave which may be used up to the ninth year of age of a child.

 

How about parents and children are looked after in other European countries?

 

Czech Republic

In the neighboring Czech Republic only one of the parents is entitled to receive a parental contribution for the youngest child in the family. While the return of the parent is necessary to meet the statutory conditions. the parent is entitled to parental allowance regardless of financial circumstances or level of income.

The amount of parental allowance

The amount of parental allowance in the neighboring Czech Republic since 2012 is set at £220,000, the parent will choose how long will receive a contribution (from two to four years). The amount of parental allowance is adjusted accordingly. Length of receiving the contribution, and therefore its height can be changed, once every three months. The contribution shall not exceed 70 % of the previous calculation basis.

 

Austria

Family policy is one of the most generous in Europe. Maternity leave starting eight weeks before the expected date of confinement. Mother gets at the dose of your average earnings in the last three months. Parental leave can last up to two years of a child. Support is available in three versions: 15 months to 20 months or the first 30 months.

Poland

They are facing a high risk of child poverty, lack of suitable childcare and low birth index. Child benefit can complement various other portions of the local authorities. Parental leave may be for three years during the four years of the child. There is also a single dose at birth.

Hungary

Maternity benefit goes up to 70 % of average gross earnings. If a parent wants to receive support, can work within one year of the child. Parental leave in two years and the dose is up to 70 % to their earnings, but not more than €376 a month. There is also a program to encourage long-term saving child – Baby bond. At birth the baby get a one-time contribution of about €150, which is stored in the bank until reaching 18 years of age. Fathers can take from work extra five days’ leave in parallel with maternity leave, paid by the employer to reimburse the state.

France

It has strong support large families, women’s employment and connections work and family life. Family contribution is the basis of the French family support. The maternity leave is at the same level as the previous income, is paid for 16 weeks, fathers are entitled to receive contribution for 11 full days worked. Single childbirth payment is €894, respectively €1,788, monthly benefit is also paid to the parent who lives alone, according to income and number of children. Per child is €778, for example. Family benefits for families with more children are starting at €124 per month for two children, €282 for three children and €159 for each additional child. Kindergarten or nursery is for children aged two months immediately after maternity leave.

Sweden

Both parents can draw parental leave maximum of 16 months per child.For 13 months parent receives 80 % of previous earnings. Each parent has a non-transferable right to two months paid parental leave. The remaining 12 months can be a father and mother in any way to divide among themselves. The right to absence from work full time is a maximum of 18 months of the child. Then the parents are entitled to a 25 % time work until the age of eight years of a child or the completion of the first year of school.

Source: https://zena.sme.sk/

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