More Fathers Taking Paternity Leave
Image: YLE
New fathers in Finland are taking paternity leave more frequently. According to the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela), the number of men who stay home to care for their children has risen by one-quarter over the past ten years.
Six perecent of paid parental leave days are now taken by dads.
Last year, 51,200 fathers were granted parental leave support, an increase of 26 percent from 1998. During the same period, the number of mothers taking the support increased by just two percent.
Kela has tried to encourage fathers to use paternity leave by improving benefits and flexibility of leave. Parental support is paid to either the mother or father, depending on which parent stays home to care for the child.
YLE