Shared parental leave has become one of the most significant family policy tools in modern welfare systems. Its primary objective is to encourage a more balanced sharing of childcare responsibilities between mothers and fathers, support women’s participation in the labour market and, in many countries, help address declining birth rates.
Although the principle is now widely recognised across advanced economies, the way parental leave is designed and implemented varies considerably in terms of duration, financial support and flexibility.
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Italy: a system evolving, but still behind the Nordic model
Italy distinguishes between maternity leave, mandatory paternity leave and parental leave.
Maternity leave remains the cornerstone of protection for working mothers, while mandatory paternity leave has been gradually expanded over recent years. In addition, parental leave can be shared between both parents during the child’s early years, according to the rules established by current legislation.
Public debate has increasingly focused on strengthening fathers’ rights by extending mandatory paternity leave and encouraging a more equal distribution of childcare responsibilities. The long-term goal is to move Italy closer to the most advanced European systems, where parental leave is regarded as a right for both parents rather than primarily for mothers.
Europe: the Nordic countries remain the benchmark
Across the European Union, parental leave policies vary significantly, although the EU Work-Life Balance Directive has encouraged Member States to strengthen family rights.
The most advanced systems continue to be found in the Nordic countries. Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland offer lengthy periods of paid parental leave, with a dedicated portion reserved exclusively for fathers. If the father does not use this entitlement, it is generally forfeited, encouraging both parents to actively participate in raising their children.
Spain has also emerged as one of Europe’s leading examples. In recent years, the country has progressively equalised maternity and paternity leave, granting mothers and fathers almost identical, non-transferable periods of paid leave.
Other countries, including Germany, France and the Netherlands, provide more flexible systems combining varying levels of income replacement with financial incentives for families that share parental leave between both parents.
Canada and the United States: two very different approaches
North America offers two sharply contrasting models. Canada provides one of the most generous parental leave systems among advanced economies. Families can choose between different benefit options, balancing longer leave periods with different levels of financial compensation. Part of the leave is reserved specifically for the second parent, encouraging fathers to take a more active role in childcare.
The United States, by contrast, has no universal federally funded paid parental leave programme. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) primarily guarantees eligible workers unpaid job-protected leave for family reasons, but does not require employers to provide salary during that period. Several individual states, including California, New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts, have introduced their own paid family leave programmes offering more extensive financial support.
Japan: generous benefits, but limited participation
Japan represents one of the world’s most interesting case studies. From a legal perspective, the country offers one of the longest parental leave systems among developed economies and allows fathers to take extended leave while receiving financial benefits.
In practice, however, male participation remained relatively low for many years due to corporate culture and concerns about career progression. More recently, the Japanese government has introduced reforms and awareness campaigns aimed at increasing the number of fathers taking parental leave as part of its broader strategy to address the country’s demographic challenges.
United Arab Emirates: expanding family protections
The United Arab Emirates has also strengthened parental rights in recent years.
Labour law reforms have expanded maternity and paternity leave entitlements across both the public and private sectors, reflecting the country’s wider efforts to modernise its labour market. Although the Emirati model remains less comprehensive than those adopted by many European countries, it marks significant progress compared with previous legislation.
China and South Korea: demographic decline is reshaping family policies
East Asia is facing one of the world’s most severe demographic challenges. In China, following the end of the long-standing one-child policy, national and local governments have gradually expanded family support measures. Several provinces have introduced longer parental leave periods and financial incentives designed to encourage childbirth. Nevertheless, the system remains less uniform than those found in Europe, with substantial regional differences.
South Korea, which records one of the world’s lowest fertility rates, has also strengthened parental leave policies and increased financial incentives. Authorities are placing particular emphasis on encouraging fathers to take leave, recognising shared parenting as an important element in improving work-life balance and supporting higher birth rates.
Beyond welfare: an economic policy tool
Economists increasingly view shared parental leave not simply as a social welfare measure, but also as an important instrument of economic policy.
A more balanced sharing of childcare responsibilities helps increase women’s participation in the labour market, reduce gender pay disparities and facilitate a smoother return to work following childbirth. At the same time, countries experiencing persistent demographic decline see stronger family policies as one of the tools available to mitigate long-term population ageing and labour shortages.
Although approaches differ widely, most advanced economies are gradually expanding parental leave rights for new parents. The Nordic countries continue to set the international benchmark, while many other governments are introducing reforms designed to create a more balanced distribution of childcare responsibilities between mothers and fathers.
The evolution of shared parental leave demonstrates that supporting families is no longer viewed solely as a matter of social welfare. It has become an increasingly important component of broader strategies aimed at promoting economic growth, labour market participation, gender equality and long-term demographic sustainability.
