Israeli dads may get short paternity leave
Ministerial Committee for Legislation approves bill to give new fathers eight-day parental leave immediately after birth: Three vacation days, five days of sick leave paid by employer
The bill, submitted by Knesset Member Tamar Zandberg (Meretz), seeks to grant fathers parental leave immediately after birth, which will include three paid vacation days and five days of sick leave paid by the employer.
The bill states that "many studies have looked into fathers' involvement in childcare and have found a clear link between involvement in raising and educating the child and going on paternity leave.
"Today Israel does not grant men the right to paternity leave, although Israel is the country with the highest birthrate in the Western world, making every day of leave invaluable for families. The entire Western world is advancing towards a model of equal parenting, and this bill seeks to pass a law granting a shared time for both parents upon the baby's birth."
'Israel lags behind'
The same bill was already submitted in the past by Housing Minister Uri Ariel and passed its first reading at the 18th Knesset. MK Zandberg resubmitted the proposed law in accordance with an agreement reached with the Economy and Finance ministries and with the support of both coalition and opposition factions.
"Israel is making progress in terms of women's rights during pregnancy and birth, but in terms of paternity leave we lag behind," Zandberg said. "Parenthood is both parents' right, and is not just the mother's job.
"This bill will allow fathers to help and assist, and mainly to begin the connection with their boy or girl. The model of equal parenthood is encouraged in the entire world, and the government's support for this proposal is a first step in the direction of changing the perception of parenthood in Israel's world of labor."
Finance Minister Yair Lapid opposed the bill during the discussion, due to its high costs. Interior Minister Gideon Sa'ar, who enacted the paid maternity leave extension law six years ago, commented that the high costs would be compensated by the vacation days and sick leave.
"Clearly, during these days fathers should be home, and we must create the legal infrastructure that will allow them to do so," Sa'ar said to Lapid.
Minister Ariel welcomed the proposal. "This is an important law helping thousands of couples, and allowing fathers to assist their wives during the important moments of their life together upon the expansion of the family unit," he says.
"The many appeals from many couples show just how important this law is. I regret the fact that I failed to advance the law in the previous Knesset and will gladly do everything in my power to help advance the law as soon as possible together with MK Zandberg."
