Increased Paternity Leave In France Promised For 2021

• Published date: 30 September 2020
• Subject Matter: Employment and HR, Employee Benefits & Compensation
• Law Firm: lus Laboris
• Author: Mr Jean-Benoit Cottin (Capstan)

The French President Emmanuel Macron announced yesterday during a live Facebook and Instagram event that the total duration of paternity leave will be increased to 28 days, of which seven days will be mandatory.

This announcement follows the publication of a report on the child's first 1,000 days (click here to download in French), which was presented to him a few days earlier.

President Macron said:

'First and foremost, it is a measure that promotes equality between women and men... When the child arrives in the world, there is no reason that it is just the mother who takes care of it, and it is important that, in a couple, both have precisely this responsibility, this moment which is also a moment of intimacy, of construction of the infant and the future adult and that there is more equality in the sharing of tasks from the first day.'

For the time being, on the birth of a child, the father (or the mother's spouse or partner, including in female couples) is entitled to:

• Three days of 'birth leave' financed by the employer.
• ...