Paid leave for new mums and dads is an important expat benefit – but family support depends on where you live and work.
Looking after children after birth or adoption is a factor expats should consider before taking a post if starting a family is high on their agenda.
How much help an employer offers depends on company policies and state laws that can vary widely between countries.
Keeping track of the options is often a tough task as the rules can change quickly.
Mercer, the global benefits firm, has looked at benefits for expat fathers and mothers in 64 different countries to find the best and worst destinations.
Czech out this benefit
Top of the list is the Czech Republic, where mums or dads may take up to 48 months paid leave paid as a fixed rate benefit by the government.
Mums get between 14 and 28 weeks maternity leave, including six straight weeks after the birth.
Sweden comes next with 69 weeks paid leave, including seven weeks before the birth for the mum. The leave after birth can be shared between father and mother.
Other countries ranking well are Germany, Norway and Denmark, all with 50 plus weeks of paid parental leave.
Coming at the bottom of the table, all with between just six and 12 weeks leave for parents around childbirth are the popular expat destinations of the US, United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong. Lebanon and Taiwan also feature with them.
Oz baby bonus
The firm says the research revealed Australia offers some of the most generous benefits to parents at childbirth.
Working parents receive national minimum pay for 18 weeks off after the birth of a child.
Mums are also paid a baby bonus for each child in a multiple birth for 26 weeks after the births.
“All the countries we looked at offer parental leave after child birth to some extent, but the scope of how the rules differ from country to country is astounding,” said Samantha Polovina, the report author.
“For example, one country may mandate a few days or weeks of leave, while another allows four years — much of it paid.”
One point expats should watch is that if a birth is approaching, they should consider delay taking up a posting if the benefits are reduced during the move – or let the mum stay at home and join later so she can take advantage of the better rules in her own country.
