The Local Sweden

WATCH: Is Sweden's flexible parental leave helping gender equality?

Fri, 06 Nov 2020 13:14:32 +0100

Sweden is famous for its generous and flexible parental leave but some critics say it's enforcing traditional gender roles as fathers aren't making full use of the time they could take off with their newborns.

Changes to Sweden's parental leave law: What do they mean for you?

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 16:01:03 +0200

The way that parental leave works is changing, meaning that more people will be entitled to the benefit. Here's a look at the changes coming into effect from July 1st.

Sweden is one of the world's best places to raise a family: Unicef

Fri, 14 Jun 2019 16:43:23 +0200

Sweden was ranked the best place to raise a family out of 31 wealthy countries in a new report from Unicef which rated how family-friendly different countries' policies were.

Dads in Sweden are taking out more parental leave

Tue, 14 May 2019 10:28:42 +0200

Fathers in Sweden are using a greater proportion of parental leave allowance after a third reserved month was introduced for each parent.

Social Democrats promise Swedish parents an extra week of paid holiday

Tue, 28 Aug 2018 20:21:38 +0200

Swedish parents would get an extra week of paid holiday under an election proposal presented by the Social Democrats on Tuesday.

UK would gain £180 billion GDP boost by matching Sweden's female employment rate: study

Thu, 29 Mar 2018 12:35:08 +0200

A new index charting female economic empowerment cites Sweden as the example for other OECD countries to follow, predicting that there would be a $6 trillion boost to OECD GDP if female employment rates were boosted to match the Nordic country.

Dads in Sweden took more paternity leave than ever in 2017

Wed, 17 Jan 2018 08:32:47 +0100

More and more dads claim their share of Sweden's parental leave, according to fresh figures.

Swedish dads told to take five months of parental leave

Mon, 18 Dec 2017 13:15:44 +0100

A government investigator has proposed that Sweden should increase the total use-it-or-lose-it parental leave allowance to five months per parent in an effort to push more equal sharing of leave.

Share parental leave evenly if you want your relationship to last, Swedish study shows

Tue, 04 Jul 2017 19:19:38 +0200

Sweden is known for offering one of the most generous parental leave packages in the world, but a new study confirms that it can also have a negative impact on couples if not handled in the right way.

Spoof video proves just how gender equal Swedes are

Fri, 01 Apr 2016 18:28:27 +0200

One of Sweden's four female party leaders has marked her return from maternity leave in a comedy video that proves the Nordic country is streets ahead of most nations when it comes to gender equality.

One in four Swedish dads take no baby leave

Tue, 29 Dec 2015 16:16:14 +0100

A surprising number of Swedish fathers do not take a single day's parental leave to look after their newborn babies, according to the country's social welfare agency.

Parental leave bonus to be scrapped in 2017

Wed, 16 Sep 2015 17:27:43 +0200

Couples in Sweden will no longer be entitled to a gender equality bonus for spliting parental leave, if the government's autumn budget gets passed next month.

Swedish dads told to take more paternity leave

Fri, 29 May 2015 09:34:13 +0200

UPDATED: Plans to introduce a third month of paid parental leave reserved for fathers are set to be introduced in 2016, the Swedish government has revealed, in a bid to further increase gender equality.

Löfven promises dole payouts shake-up

Sun, 29 Jun 2014 15:22:00 +0200

Social Democrat leader Stefan Löfven has promised to raise the ceiling for unemployment insurance payments and hinted at changes to paternity leave if he wins September's election.

Families earn more when dads stay home: study

Fri, 08 Nov 2013 09:46:00 +0100

A new myth-busting review of Sweden's parental leave practices has revealed that men and women divvying up the generous benefits equally do not stand to lose money, despite the general belief to the contrary.

Liberals propose third daddy month

Sun, 01 Sep 2013 19:13:00 +0200

The Liberal People's Party (Folkpartiet) want a third paternity month of parental benefit saying it will play a crucial role for children and help career prospects for mothers.

Swedish dads stay home as mothers work

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 14:09:00 +0200

With Sweden's solid paternity laws and encouraged gender equality, AFP's Camille Bas-Wohlert examines how Swedish fathers are more involved in raising their children than fathers in other countries are.

Many Swedish dads 'still at work' on parental leave

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:51:00 +0200

Half of Sweden's business administrators have said they are expected to pitch in at work despite caring for their child while on parental leave, with men more at risk of never leaving the office.

'Not taking out maternity leave is taboo in Sweden'

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:05:00 +0100

Missing her daughter's "irretrievable" babyhood haunts photographer Linda M. Thompson on her 45-minute commute to and from university, but she says it's time to stop condemning Swedish mothers who don't take out all their parental leave.

Sweden alters parental leave benefit rules

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 13:53:00 +0200

The government wants to alter Sweden's system of parental leave benefits in an effort to get more immigrant women into the workforce.