The family leave reform introduces three new parental benefits, known separately as special pregnancy allowance, maternity allowance and parental allowance. Parents who are expecting a child on or after 4 September 2022 and parents who adopt a child who will be taken into their care on or after 31 July 2022 are eligible for support. Pregnancy and parental benefits for a new parent can be applied for from. 1.5.2022, while applications for special severance pay and parental benefit for the other parent will be accepted from 1.8.2022. Applications can be submitted OmaKela e-service (in Finnish and Swedish).
The ability to share parental benefit equally between parents brings more flexibility
Parents are entitled to parental benefit for a total of 320 working days. If a child has two parents, the days are divided equally between the parents, ie both are entitled to 160 working days. A pregnant parent is entitled to an additional 40 days of pregnancy benefit before parental benefit begins to be paid. Parents can agree to waive their rights for up to 63 days for the other parent or someone else caring for the child.
Parental allowance after reform. Parents are entitled to parental benefit for a total of 320 working days. A pregnant parent is entitled to an additional 40 days of pregnancy benefit. The days are divided equally between the parents, ie both are entitled to 160 working days. Parents can waive their rights for up to 63 days for another parent or other person caring for the child.
The introduction of parental allowance and partial parental leave will bring more flexibility by enabling a better combination of work and family leave and, for example, by enabling part-time work. One partial day of parental benefit is counted for half a day in the parental benefit court.
As before, parents can be on holiday for up to 18 working days at a time. Parental allowance days can be used at any time before the child turns two years old or before two years have elapsed since the child was adopted.
By Kiti Laitinen, Kela’s Head of Family Benefits, can apply for benefits under the new rules from May. Parents can use the new online application form to guide them through the application process. New visual content and calculators will be introduced to simplify the customer service process. According to Laitinen, Kela also informs about the benefits in new maternity packages and a plain language brochure for families with children.
Plan and discuss your family leave at home and at work
Online counter for pregnancy and parental days (in Finnish and Swedish) facilitates the planning of family holidays. You can use the counter to find out when maternity and parental benefits are available. This information can be useful to employees when discussing parental leave arrangements with their employer.
The reform of family leave will also affect jobs and the maternity and child health clinic. Kela has produced communication materials for employers and co-operation organizations.
Milla VainioKela’s communications specialist, maternity and child health counseling and the workplace play a major role in the reform of family leave, as they serve as a channel of information for families about family leave. Family leave is still unequally distributed among parents. Milla Vainio says that the reform of family leave does not apply to Kela alone, but changes are needed at all levels of society so that family leave is distributed more evenly in the future.
Share your joy – a public information campaign through multiple channels
A public information campaign on family leave reform will be launched in early May. The campaign will be broadcast on a number of channels and aims to raise awareness among parents who have or want to have children about the reform of family leave and the flexibility it offers to families.
The current family leave law and the new law will be in force until the end of 2024. Current legislation applies to parents who are expecting a child before September 4, 2022.
Source: Kela
Source: The Nordic Page