Politics | 11 September, 2009 [ 10:46 ]Peru: Congress Approves Four Day Paternity Leave
LivinginPeru.com
Katrina Heimark

Peru’s Congress unanimously approved a historic law that will now allow fathers to spend four days at home after the birth of their child. Before, only women had the right to paid leave from work; however, from now on fathers, whether they are married to the mother of the child or not, will be able to have four consecutive days to further get to know their new child.
The paternity leave will be given by the father’s employer, and will be a mandatory four days off, beginning with the day the child is born. This initiative was proposed by the Work Commission, and was unanimously approved by Congress (only one member abstained from voting).
Miguel Ángel Ramos Padilla, director of the department of Family and Community within the Ministry of Women and Social Development, stated that the paternity leave “is an important element to assure that men become closer to the role of raising a child.” However, the measure has been critiqued for its very short duration. Ramos states that the leave should last at least ten days, as that is the “minimum amount of time that it takes for a woman to recuperate after giving birth.”
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