Breaking News English

Finland gives parents 7-month parental leave

Maternity Leave - Level 0

Parents in Finland will get seven months to spend with their babies. This is almost double the amount of the current leave. Each parent will get 164 days and give up to 69 of their days to their partner. Single parents will get 328 days. Current parental leave gives four months to mothers and two months to fathers.

Finland said the rules will help families. The government explained it wants to put the child "at the centre of family benefits and promote wellbeing". It wants to stop falling birth rates. Last year saw the fewest babies born in the country since 1868. Sweden gives each parent 240 days. The USA has no national paid parental leave.

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Maternity Leave - Level 1

Parents in Finland will get more time to spend with their babies. The government will give parents seven months of leave. This is almost double the amount of its current leave. New rules will give 164 days to each parent. Parents can give up to 69 of their days to their partner, so one parent could take nine months of leave. Single parents will get 328 days. Finland's current parental leave gives four months for maternity leave, and two months for fathers.

Finland said the rules are needed to help families. The government explained the importance of the rules. It wants to put the child "at the centre of family benefits, and promote wellbeing and gender equality". It wants to stop falling birth rates. Births in Finland have dropped. Last year saw the fewest babies born in the country since 1868. Sweden has the most leave. It gives each parent 240 days. The USA has no national paid leave for mothers or fathers.

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Maternity Leave - Level 2

Slowest

New parents in Finland will have more time to spend with their babies. The government decided to give mothers and fathers seven months of parental leave. This is almost double the amount of its maternity and paternity leave. The new policy will give 164 days to each parent - about seven months. Parents can also give up to 69 of their days to their partner. This means one parent could take nine months of leave. Single parents will get all 328 days. Finland's current parental leave gives four months for maternity leave, and two months for fathers.

Finland said the new rules were needed to help families. The Minister of Social Affairs and Health explained the importance of the new rules. She said they put the child "at the centre of family benefits, and promote wellbeing and gender equality". It will also reverse falling birth rates. Births in Finland dropped for the past nine years. Last year saw the lowest number of babies born in the country since 1868. Finland's neighbour Sweden has the most generous leave. It offers 240 days per parent. The USA has no national paid leave for mothers or fathers.

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Maternity Leave - Level 3

Finland is giving new parents more time to spend with their babies. The Finnish government has decided to give mothers and fathers seven months of parental leave. This means Finland will almost double the amount of its maternity leave and paternity leave. The new Family Leave Policy will give 164 days to each parent. This is about seven months. Parents can also transfer up to 69 of their own days to their partner. This means it is possible for one parent to take nine months of parental leave. For single parents, Finland is giving all 328 days to the mother or father. Finland's current parental leave gives four months for maternity leave, and two months for fathers.

Finland's government said the new rules were necessary to help young families. Finland's Minister of Social Affairs and Health explained why the country is introducing the new rules. She said: "The model guarantees the child a place at the centre of family benefits, and it promotes wellbeing and gender equality." It will also help to increase the country's declining birth rate. The number of babies born in Finland has dropped for the past nine years. Last year, Finland had the lowest number of babies born in the country since 1868. Finland's neighbour Sweden has the most generous leave policy, offering 240 days per parent. The USA has no national paid leave for mothers or fathers.

SPEED READING

Speed 1    |     Speed 2    |     Speed 3

MORE

25 online activities    |    27-page printable    |    2-page mini-lesson