Denmark amends its parental leave legislation

On 03 March Denmark’s Parliament adopted a law amending the Parental Leave Act and bringing it into line with the 2019 European Work-life Balance Directive - which must be implemented in the EU Member States by 02 August 2022 – with the aim to promote a better work-life balance and gender equality.

According to the new rules, the mother is still entitled to 4 weeks of leave before the birth, two of which must be taken after the birth. After this period, the mother is entitled to have further 8 weeks of leave which can be transferred to the other parent. After this period, the mother is entitled to a leave of further 32 weeks, as under the current rules.

Single parents can also access 46 weeks of paid leave. As of 01 January 2024, single parents will also be able to transfer part of the leave to a close family member (e.g. a brother or a grandparent), provided that the leave is taken before the child’s first birthday.

From 1 January 2024, LGBT+ families will also see their possibilities for leave will also be improved, as the child’s “legal” parent has the possibility to transfer available weeks of leave to “social” parents. Examples of social parents could be the legal parent’s spouse, a known donor with a parental relationship to the child, or for example the known donor’s spouse or cohabitant who has a parental relationship to the child.