LCGB calls for compulsory parental leave for fathers

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With Luxembourg's parental leave scheme being taken up only very rarely by men, in December 2002 the LCGB trade union confederation called for the introduction of four weeks' compulsory leave for fathers following the birth of a child.

Parental leave was introduced in Luxembourg within the framework of the law of 12 February 1999, which implemented the country's first National Action Plan (NAP) on employment, in response to the EU Employment Guidelines (LU9903195F). The leave lasts for six months (or 12 months part time) per parent, and applies in respect of all children born after 1 January 1999 to an insured employee in Luxembourg. One of the parents must take the leave immediately after the period of maternity leave, while the other parent may take it at any time until the child's fifth birthday. During the six-month period of leave, the parents qualify for a monthly cash state benefit of EUR 1,611.

Up until February 2001, a total of 5,793 people had taken parental leave, of whom nine-tenths were women aged 25 to 29. Most of the few men opting for parental leave were aged 30-34, and usually took the leave later than women. Most women prefer to go on parental leave immediately after maternity leave. (LU0111101N)

In December 2002, the Women’s Information Centre (Centre d'information des femmes, Cidfemmes) published a brochure on parental leave, and on father’s parental leave in particular, entitled Children vote for fathers’ parental leave. (Les enfants votent pour le congé parental du père). This brochure states that opting for parental leave enables fathers to develop social skills, and to share their babies’ earliest moments and stages of their lives: 'Direct experience with their children stimulates fathers’ sensitivity to the importance of an employment context that favours a conciliation of family and work responsibilities.'

At the same time as this brochure was published, the Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (Lëtzebuerger Chrëschtleche Gewerkschafts-Bond, LCGB) stated that it regretted that only 6% of applications for parental leave were made by men, and argued for men to be more involved in bringing up their children. In a press release issued on 11 December 2002, the LCGB Equal Opportunities Committee (Commission à l'égalité des chances du LCGB) demanded four weeks’ compulsory parental leave for men following the birth of a child.

LCGB also pointed out that the current statutory provisions on parental leave will cease to be in force after 30 June 2003, and that a renewal or an extension of this legislation is currently being negotiated.