Overview of parental leave arrangements in Australia and selected countries What is the What is the What is the payment Who pays for the Does the Can some Are fathers What is the maximum weekly maximum maximum rate? parental leave? employer of the paid and partners amount mothers may receive amount of time amount of time make the leave be entitled to (approximate)? mothers are mothers are payment? transferred post-birth entitled to unpaid entitled to paid to fathers or paid leave? leave? leave from a partners? Australian national scheme? dollars 52 weeks + additional 52 National Weekly Government Australia 18 weeks $606 + $606 + 2 weeks weeks if Minimum Wage funded employer agrees No legislated US 12 weeks entitlement 90% of Not capped for 6 mother’s average weekly weeks then capped Government $211 UK 52 weeks 39 weeks 2 weeks earnings for at least 6 at GBP £137 for funded 33wk cap weeks remaining 33 weeks Employee and employer 55% of average Canada 52 weeks 50 weeks CAD $501 $497 contributions; insured earnings shortfalls covered by Government 100% of ordinary Government NZ 52 weeks 14 weeks weekly pay or average NZD $475 $394 funded weekly earnings 80% of earnings for Employer SEK kr6545 during 47 weeks; remaining contributions; first 47 weeks Sweden weeks weeks $991 10 days ~77 ~60 13 weeks at SEK shortfall covered kr1260 a week by Government
Overview of parental leave arrangements in Australia and selected countries What is the maximum amount of time mothers are entitled to unpaid leave? What is the maximum amount of time mothers are entitled to paid leave from a national scheme? What is the payment rate? What is the maximum weekly amount mothers may receive (approximate)? Who pays for the parental leave? Does the employer make the payment? Can some of the paid leave be transferred to fathers or partners? Are fathers and partners entitled to post-birth paid leave? Australian dollars Australia 52 weeks + additional 52 weeks if employer agrees 18 weeks National Weekly Minimum Wage $606 + $606 + Government funded 2 weeks US 12 weeks No legislated entitlement UK 52 weeks 39 weeks 90% of mother’s average weekly earnings for at least 6 weeks Not capped for 6 weeks then capped at GBP £137 for remaining 33 weeks $211 33wk cap Government funded 2 weeks Canada 52 weeks 50 weeks 55% of average insured earnings CAD $501 $497 Employee and employer contributions; shortfalls covered by Government NZ 52 weeks 14 weeks 100% of ordinary weekly pay or average weekly earnings NZD $475 $394 Government funded Sweden ~77 weeks ~60 weeks 80% of earnings for 47 weeks; remaining 13 weeks at SEK kr1260 a week SEK kr6545 during first 47 weeks $991 Employer contributions; shortfall covered by Government 10 days