BBC Overnight Programming 10:00pm - 6:00am

Listen Live

Search

Initiative launched to boost parental leave

Wednesday, 2 April 2025 06:30

A grouping of left-wing parties has launched a popular initiative to bring in 36 weeks combined leave for parents after the birth of a child.

The Initiative for Family Leave calls for equal opportunities in personal and professional lives and says parenthood is a shared responsibility. 

Maternity leave is currently 14 weeks and paternity leave is two weeks. The initiative will create 18 weeks for each parent and could be taken alternately. 

Backers say it makes good economic sense as well. They argue it will create 2,500 full time jobs each year and the cost will be offset after 20 years of tax revenue.

 

 

Share

More from Bitesize News

  • Geneva could foot the G7 bill

    Geneva fears it will be left with the security bill from a G7 summit just across the border in Évian, according to 24 heures.

  • US NGO discovers Swiss child abuse cases

    Switzerland relies too heavily on an American NGO to detect child sexual abuse online, raising questions about the country's ability to protect children on its own.

  • French singer banned by Paleo

    The Paléo Festival in Nyon says it will no longer invite French singer Patrick Bruel, after a former volunteer accused him of inappropriate behaviour.

  • Cars going uninspected

    The cantons are struggling to keep up with mandatory vehicle inspections, leaving more than 550,000 checks overdue nationwide.

  • War may lead to rent rises

    Rents may rise again, says the bank Raiffeisen.

  • Not a heatwave, yet

    Summer has arrived, with temperatures climbing past 30 over the long weekend. Basel reached 31 and Sion hit 32.4, but MeteoSwiss, says this does not yet count as an official heatwave.

Follow WRS

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play