News

Swedish fathers have been told to take five months off work after a government investigation suggested increasing the country’s parental allowance to encourage fairer sharing of leave between men and women.

Sweden currently offers 480 days of subsidised leave per child, which parents can share as they wish, with 390 paid for by the taxpayer at a rate of about 80 per cent of their salary.

At least three months of that leave is allocated to each parent on a “use it or lose it” basis.

A government report has recommended that the allowance be boosted to five months, to increase gender equality in time off for childcare.