Grandparents in Sweden can now get paid parental leave for taking care of their grandchildren.
It comes after the country expanded its paid parental leave laws, allowing parents to transfer their leave entitlements to someone who isn’t their child’s legal guardian — like a grandparent.
The measure is aimed at supporting Swedish parents to return to the workforce.
Here’s the latest.
Background
In a world first, Sweden introduced paid parental leave for parents of any gender in 1974.
Under its current national entitlement, parents of newborns can share a total of 480 days of paid parental leave.
Sweden has one of the highest workforce participation rates in the world. Nearly 90% of 25 to 64-year-olds in Sweden are employed, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Parental leave in Sweden
Starting this month, parents of a child up to 15-months-old can transfer up to 45 days of their leave to a carer like a grandparent. Single parents can transfer up to 90 days.
The recipient of transferred parental leave must not be working or studying during this time.
Sweden’s national insurance fund said the reform means “a friend, a neighbour or perhaps a grandparent can be on parental leave with your child and receive parental allowance.”
