Insider / ΚΥΠΕ
Convergence to extend the period of application for paternity leave to 26 weeks, led to the debate on Tuesday in the Labor Committee of the Parliament, in the presence of the Minister, Zeta Aimilianidou.
Objections were expressed by the Minister and by the DISY MPs Fotini Tsiridou and Onoufrio Koulla, regarding the proposal for two additional weeks, after the expiration of the maternity leave.
It is recalled that proposals were submitted by the Commission to the competent Ministry, to extend the period during which a father is entitled to apply for two weeks of paternity leave, within a period of up to 52 weeks (instead of the current 16).
During the discussion that took place during the meeting, the Minister replied that the proposals that increase the state expenditures are “unconstitutional”, something that put out of the discussion the proposal to extend the period to 52 weeks. He stressed that the purpose of the bill is to distribute equally to the father and mother, the obligations arising after the birth of the child, therefore, as he said, it is not considered appropriate to extend it beyond the period of maternity leave. He concluded that “there is no dispute that the period of the right to paternity leave is valid, as long as the maternity leave is valid”.
The Chairman of the Committee and Member of Parliament of AKEL, Andreas Kafkalias, focused on the compromise proposal for a period of 26 + 2 weeks. As he explained, this proposal covers the goals of the Government, but also allows the father to apply for paternity allowance after the end of maternity leave, in order not to reduce the family income, since then one of the parents will receive 100% of his salary. In statements after the end of the meeting, he said that “we have heard the views of the Minister, as AKEL we are ready to discuss an alternative period and we hope that we will find the golden section for an arrangement that will enable the fathers to properly use the this allowance “.
DISY MP, Dimitris Dimitriou, bid for the proposal 26 + 2, saying that the two weeks after the maternity leave is valid, allow the father to be alone with the child and to connect better with it. “This period can also be a financial respite for the family, which will save the cost of the daycare center for two weeks,” he added.
DISY MP, Fotini Tsiridou, stressed that the more the new family is supported, the better, but she expressed reservations regarding the extension of two weeks. “Certainly the period of the mother returning to work is crucial, but if the right to parental leave offers the father the opportunity to be with the child then, then this will be regulated by another bill, which we expect to come before us,” he said, and He added that the most critical weeks for maternity support are those that are also covered by the leave.
DISY MP Onoufrios Koullas, stated that “if the goal is to support the mother after childbirth, then the bill should not provide even one day after maternity leave, to obtain paternity leave, but maybe it should even limit the right to the crucial first eight weeks “. In statements after the meeting, he stressed that “we should not risk, instead of implementing the bill, being taken to the Supreme Court due to unconstitutionality.”
AKEL MP Christos Christofias raised the concern that the small number of fathers who have applied for paternity leave so far, may indicate a problem in the practical implementation of the law and called on the committee and the Minister to examine these weaknesses in order to correct them.
DIKO MP, Panikos Leonidou, referred to sensitive aspects of the postpartum period (such as postpartum depression, up to one year after birth) and raised the concern that the mother may need support after the maternity leave expires.
EDEK MP, Andreas Apostolou, claimed that the period of two additional weeks of paternity leave, after the expiration of maternity leave, serves in order for the father to support the mother, so that she can return to work smoothly. “I believe that if this measure is passed, it will be used by the fathers, to support their wives,” he added.
In August 2022 the horizon for the parental leave law
The enactment of the law on parental leave is foreseen to be completed by August 2022, according to the European regulation, and the Minister of Labor, Zeta Aimilianidou, stated that it will be submitted to the Parliament in the spring of 2022.
During the discussion in the Labor Committee, the Minister stated that, among other things, “parental leave will give the father the opportunity to spend more time with the child”, which is not the purpose of paternity leave, as she said. He stressed, however, that extending the period of paternity leave may limit parental leave, so care must be taken in making decisions.
EDEK MP, Andreas Apostolou, in his statements after the meeting of the Committee, expressed his satisfaction for the promotion of the preparation of the bill. “Since 2017, I have argued that paid parental leave should be secured for both parents,” he said. He added that the bill will provide non-transferable leave for each parent, initially 45 and then 60 days, which the parent can receive up to 8 years of the child.
Transfer of parental rights in case of loss
In her position on the bill for the transfer of parental rights, in case of loss of the mother, the Minister stated that she fully agrees with the proposal, but stressed that “amendments are needed to make the law correct, so that the father does not lose rights. such as the widow's pension, since the law stipulates that one cannot receive two benefits at the same time “. “I have already given instructions to the Social Security services, so that we can submit the law in the correct form. “I welcome the initiative, but give us time, so as not to create other problems,” he concluded.
