Parent paradise!

Norway has one of the most liberal parental leave systems in the world, and the amount of leave has just increased by 2 weeks! Norwegian parents have the right to take 49 weeks at 100 per cent pay or 59 weeks at 80 per cent pay within the first three years of their child's life. It doesn't matter how they take the leave - the parents can divide up the time as they wish and your work place has no means of preventing it. The only thing is that the three weeks before and six weeks after the birth are given to the mother, and the father must take 14 weeks paternity leave during that period. If he doesn't the family loses those weeks completely as they are not transferable to the mother.

Social studies indicate that giving fathers time to be at home with their new offspring, getting to know them, taking care of the household etc. is extremely beneficial in cementing family relationships and guarding against family breakdown in the first year. Let's face it babies are a huge stress factor no matter how cute they look! It also helps to break down issues of gender and stereotypes, particularly at the workplace.

So far so good, but some families find it difficult to make it work and find the system too restrictive - especially when it comes to those 14 weeks of paternity leave. Despite the fact that paternity leave has been enshrined in Norwwegian law since 1993 (then it was 6 weeks) there is still a feeling in the private sector that parental leave is more women's work than men's work! At least, that is the general consensus in the newspapers since the leader of the Conservative Party has come forward with the idea of removing paternity leave and replacing it with parental leave, so that parents can make their own decisions as to how to split the time available.

Erna Solberg, leader of is currently on the campaign trail for the general elections coming up in Spetember, and I guess she is hoping to appeal to many disgruntled Labour Party (currently in power) voters, who are feeling disgruntled with what we might call a 'nanny' state!

The maternity and paternity leave system is a great system for families, but is really expensive to run, and when you throw in the state supported childcare system which is available to all children over one year old - that's why taxes are so high! Oh, and I forgot to mention that you are entitled by law to take 24 days a year as sickleave to care for sick children under the age of 12, in addition to 24 days for yourself, and an employer may not unreasonably deny you leave to attend parent/teacher conferences, school plays etc. etc.

This really is a place where the family is king, and your work place comes second, which in a way isn't a bad thing at all!