HomeDomestic NewsDanish Parental Leave Laws Favor Women Over Men, Report Finds

Danish Parental Leave Laws Favor Women Over Men, Report Finds

The Danish Salary Protection Act (Funktionærloven) guarantees parental leave rights for both parents, but it does not ensure that fathers receive any pay during this time. While men are entitled to 11 weeks of non-transferable parental leave, a significant number of Danish employees covered by this act do not enjoy the same salary conditions as their female colleagues. Women in Denmark have the right to half pay from four weeks before the expected birth to 14 weeks after childbirth, whereas men have no fundamental pay entitlement during their parental leave.

Revised parental leave regulations introduced in August 2022 have allocated more leave specifically for fathers, prompting several companies to offer additional paid parental leave for men. Nevertheless, there remains a large group, particularly those employed under the Salary Protection Act, who still do not receive any salary during their parental leave.

A study conducted among members of the Danish Association of Lawyers and Economists (Djøf), specifically focusing on those employed in the private sector and who have taken parental leave in the last two years, reveals that the rights afforded by the Salary Protection Act have not changed. The study indicates that only two out of three men and three out of four women have better conditions than what the Salary Protection Act provides. Djøf’s chairman, Sara Vergo, has labeled these rights as outdated, emphasizing the urgent need for modernization. Djøf is advocating for legal reforms to secure both parents’ wishes for paid leave.

On average, women in Denmark are entitled to 24 weeks of leave with full pay following childbirth, while in 2023, men average 16 weeks of fully paid leave – an increase from 12 weeks in 2021. The Salary Protection Act encompasses employees in sectors such as sales, office work, and warehousing, serving as the foundation for many private sector employment terms.

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