Sweden Finland Austria

Participation of 
Minimum
Minimum
Minimum 
None
the father, rights
4 weeks
30 days
18 days
7)
3)
4)
Benefit formula
Income related,
Income related
Income related
Income related
low cap
2)
1) A new scheme (implemented from the start of 1994) for ’leave of absence for parents’ may be used
to prolong the maternity leave substantially (by up to 1 year). The new scheme is intended to
increase ’rotation’ on the labour market.
2) From July 1st 1994 a special benefit for care of small children (1-2 years) was introduced. That
replaced the last 12 weeks of maternity leave. The new scheme was abolished from January 1995
and the old reimplemented. In the ’old’ scheme 52 weeks of the leave has a benefit which is income
related, the benefit in the remaining 12 weeks is flat rate.
3) Week days. Finland also has a special benefit if one of the parents stay at home to care for the
child.
4) Austria has a supplementary scheme where the father can also participate. The benefits are
reduced.
5) Germany has a supplementary system where the mother or the father can receive 600 DM/month
in up to 24 months for children born in 1997. After 6 months this benefit is means-tested, for high
income families (140,00 DEM and above) immediately.
6) 2 of the 27 weeks will be waiting period. If the father participates, there will also be a 2 weeks
waiting period for him.
7) The 4 weeks are split in 2 + 2 weeks. 2 weeks can be taken just after delivery and 2 weeks after the
expire of the 
ordinary' leave.
Comments on table 2.15
It is obvious from the table, that the variation in the maximum benefit period is very
considerable with Sweden having 4.5 times as long a period as Germany. The three Scan-
dinavian countries have the longest benefit periods and they are letting the father partici-
pate in the maternity leave. This is also the case in Canada. The Swedish system is very
flexible both with regard to the mother’s and the father’s rights (most of the maternity
leave can be divided between them in varying proportions) and with regard to splitting the
period. The period can be split into minor periods until the child is 8 years old. It is also
possible to work part time and be on leave the rest of the time. In Finland there is also
considerable flexibility in dividing the maternity leave between the mother and the father.
There are 10 weeks to share between the parents in Denmark and Canada. In Denmark
there are also 2 + 2 weeks separately for the father.

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57
Table 2.15.
Continued.
D
NL
GB
CAN
Max. benefit period
14 weeks
16 weeks
18 weeks
27 weeks
5)
6)