Reform encourages both parents to take family leave

The Family leave reform entered into force on 1 August 2022.

The number of parental leave days will increase and there will be more flexibility for parents to take leave. The reform aims to increase equality in working life and between parents and to take better account of different types of families. The new types of parental leave will mainly apply to families where the child’s estimated date of birth is 4 September 2022 or later.

 
Press release 13 January 2022: 

The objectives of the reform are:

  • to divide family leave and care responsibilities equally between both parents in a family,
  • to strengthen non-discrimination and equality in working life and 
  • to reduce pay differences between the sexes.

Families will have more opportunities for flexibility and choice in the way they take their family leave. The number of daily allowance days will increase from the present level.

Press conference on the family leave reform, 17 Sept, held by Minister of Social Affairs and Health Hanna Sarkkinen and Minister of Employment Tuula Haatainen 

Minister Aino-Kaisa Pekonen published the draft government proposal on the legislative reform on 16 February 2021.

 

The reform was prepared in a tripartite working group

The reform of family leave will be implemented in cooperation with social partners. Preparations for the reform were primarily made by public officials in a tripartite, unofficial working group.

Group composition:

Harri Hellstén, Head of Labour Market Affairs, Federation of Finnish Enterprises
Anne Kiiski, Chief Negotiator, Local Government Employers
Anja Lahermaa, Lawyer, Finnish Confederation of Salaried Employees
Tuuli Glantz, Social Policy Advisor, Central Organisation of Finnish Trade Unions
Ilkka Oksala, Director, Confederation of Finnish Industries
Lotta Savinko, Manager, Working Life Affairs, Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland (Akava)
Ulla Westermarck, Ministerial Adviser, Office for the Government as Employer
 
Johanna Aholainen, Benefits Manager, and Tapio Isolankila, Senior Actuary, Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela)
Seija Jalkanen, Senior Specialist for Legal Affairs, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Annika Juurikko, Senior Specialist, Legal Affairs, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health
Tarja Kahiluoto, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Education and Culture
Outi Luoma-aho, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Finance
Eva Ojala, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health

The working group was chaired by Director Liisa Siika-aho from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health.

Stakeholders in the fields of equality and non-discrimination, as well as child and family organisations, were consulted during the preparation process.