How employers and the state treat support after the birth of a child can have a big impact on the wellbeing and finances of an expat family.
For many expats, this sometimes vital benefit comes down to a lottery, depending on the country where they live.
“Paternal leave is one benefit that employees have gained in recent years, either due to legislation or employer goodwill,” said Samantha Polovina, of expat benefits firm Mercer, who have just issued a report on the topic.
“Some employers have really made an effort, while others seem happy to hardly bother at all. The best offer workplace childcare centres, nursing rooms, and part-time working for.”
Places with top childcare benefits
Here’s a quick overview of paternity and maternity leave options for countries with top childcare benefits, as compiled in the Mercer report:
- Ecuador – Companies with more than 50 employees must provide a daycare centre providing free care, food for children and play space
- Morocco – Companies employing more than 50 women must offer nursing facilities in or near the workplace
- Croatia – After statutory maternity leave, mums can only work part-time until their child is a year old
- Bolivia – Companies must provide mums with nursing product from the fifth month of their pregnancy and at least one month’s salary on the birth.
- Finland – Expat mums receive a cash lump-sum depending on their country of origin. If the child is cared for at home after parental leave ends, a childcare allowance is also paid
Although most countries have statutory paternity leave and benefits, some give the companies the option to offer new fathers time off to look after a child.
These include the US, India, Russia and the United Arab Emirates, which are all favoured expat destinations.
Others are Thailand, Pakistan, Vietnam, Turkey, Lebanon and Austria, according to Mercer.
Paternity policies
Italy, Serbia and the Ukraine only offer paternity leave if the new mum cannot look after the baby herself.
Mercer also compiled a list of countries with the most attractive paternity leave policies:
- Slovakia – Up to 28 weeks for single child families and 31 weeks for families with two or more children
- Slovenia – 80 days, although full-pay is offered for just 15 days. Social security benefits are paid for the rest of the time
- Norway – 12 weeks and can be taken until the child is three years old
Other countries with attractive paternity leave options include Lithuania, Portugal and Finland.
