Mothers get eight times more paid leave than fathers – and it’s women who pay the price

On average, mothers receive 196 days of paid leave and fathers only 25 days, The policy summary from the gender equality institute UN Women and the World Bank Group.

In 66 of the 190 countries surveyed, fathers are guaranteed no leave at all. Half of the rest, they got less than two weeks.

Mothers are also not universally protected. In 61 countries, they earn less than the International Labor Organization (ILO) (ILO) standard 14 weeks, and within six weeks they are guaranteed not to have any paid leave.

“Care sustains families, communities and our economy, but women continue to bear a disproportionate burden,” said UN Women Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda.

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Short, From Parental Leave to Child Care Servicesfound that parental role gaps shape family life long after parents return to work.

When fathers take time off, they share more childcare and household work in the long term – thereby easing the burden on women, who on average spend 2.5 times more hours per day on unpaid care work than men.

Paternity leave is also associated with higher earnings and employment for mothers, and more men taking leave could reduce the “motherhood penalty” faced by their female colleagues.

Children also benefit, with one analysis linking more responsible fatherhood to better cognitive function, language, emotional regulation and behavior.

Recent research shows that more men want to be more involved in childcare, and more than 64 percent would support higher taxes to expand public care services.

Beyond the role of parent

Parenting rarely stops with the children. About one in four parents also care for an elderly person, often with little or no support.

“Addressing parenting disparities requires equitable parental and carer leave, as well as policies that enable and encourage fathers to get their fair share of care, as well as the provision of social protection,” said Gumbonzvanda.

In front of International Day of Care and Support on October 29, UN agencies called for a care system that challenges discriminatory gender norms, recognizes men and boys as caregivers – and establishes equality for all family members.