2024-09-18 18:12:53
The Labor Reform project currently being studied by the House of Representatives plenary in its second debate has included this proposal.
According to the government, the aim is to equalise maternity and paternity leave. This change aims to reduce the gender employment gap and promote an equal sharing of responsibilities for caring for newborn children.
The initiative, promoted by the National Planning Department (DNP) and the Ministry of Labor, proposes a progressive extension of paid paternity leave, which is currently is two weeks, until reaching 12 weeks in 2026The plan projects an increase to eight weeks in 2024, ten weeks in 2025 and finally to 12 weeks in 2026, thus equalling the length of maternity leave.
This progress is based on the document entitled “Paternity leave: a commitment to redistributing care and generating employment”, which analyses the social and economic impacts that the extension of paternity leave would have in the country. According to the text, the economic recognition of these licenses would be the responsibility of the EPS or the entity determined by the Social Security Law, being applicable both to the birth and to the adoption of children.
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Alberto Bejarano, Director of Social Development at the DNP, highlighted that this proposal is in line with the gender equality policy promoted by the Governmentwhich seeks to eliminate discrimination against women in the labor market. “Equality in responsibility, treatment and conditions for both parents is the basis for closing the gender labor gap,” said Bejarano.
The measure would not only ensure that both parents have the opportunity to care for their children, but would also reduce the penalty on women’s employment, since they would no longer be considered the sole persons responsible for child care.
Potential job creation
One aspect highlighted by the DNP document is the potential for job creation that these equal licenses would bring. If companies choose to replace workers who take leave, between 6,000 and 18,000 new employees would be needed, depending on the percentage of replacement carried out. If 25% of workers on leave were replaced, 6,000 jobs would be created, while if the replacement reached 75%, 18,000 new workers would be needed.
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