Norwegian dads to get 14 weeks of parental leave

OSLO – Norway is to extend the amount of parental leave reserved for dads to 14 weeks, bringing the period that can be claimed by both parents on full pay to 49 weeks, a coalition member party said on Friday.

The Scandinavian country’s system is already one of the world’s most generous.

The move would come into effect on July 1, 2013 and is part of the Norwegian government’s budget proposal that will be presented on Monday. It was revealed to tabloid Verdens Gang (VG) by Audun Lysbakken, head of the Socialist Left Party, which is a member of the country’s ruling centre-left coalition.

The new rules raise the number of weeks that can be claimed by both parents within three years to 49 from 47 on full pay, up to a ceiling, and to 59 from 57 on 80 percent of the salary.

Out of this, at least 14 weeks will now have to be claimed by the father, compared to today’s quota of 12 weeks. The weeks have to be claimed by the father or they are lost.

The aim of the measure is to make fathers more involved in child rearing and to bridge the gender gap in the workplace.

Lysbakken’s comments were confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for Norway’s Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion.