SPAIN’S NEW PARENTAL LEAVE GIVES FATHERS 17 WEEKS-The new measures come into force on Wednesday July 30

Spain today has announced plans to give both mothers and fathers an extra week off work after having a baby, extending one of Europe’s most generous paid parental leave allowances to 17 weeks.

Spain is set to implement the significant extension of paid care leave after the Council of Ministers formally approved a new Royal Decree-Law today. The decree follows after intense negotiations between government coalition partners PSOE and Sumar, culminating in an agreement that seeks to improve work-life balance and comply with EU legislation.

These modifications are a part of  Spain’s recent rafts of social welfare developments in recent years, including paid menstrual leave for women, subsidies for the use of public transport, additional flexible retirement and pension options and increase in minimum wage.

The three categories of leave are extended include, Birth leave: increasing from 16 to 17 weeks for both parents, Parental leave for childcare: with an additional of two weeks paid leave, and Single-parent leave with a total of 32 weeks of paid leave.

The new measures come into force on Wednesday July 30, following their publication in the Official State Gazette