Swiss campaign files bid for 18 weeks of leave per parent

A cross-party alliance has submitted 112,517 certified signatures for an initiative seeking 18 weeks of paid parental leave for each parent with custody of a newborn, SRF reported. The signatures were filed with Switzerland’s Federal Chancellery.

The initiative, called “A strong society and economy thanks to parental leave,” exceeded the 100,000-signature threshold. Its supporters include representatives of The Centre, the Greens, the Green Liberal Party, the Social Democrats, the Evangelical People’s Party and the Free Democrats, as well as women’s organisation Alliance F and trade union umbrella group Travail.Suisse.

The proposal would allow parents to take up to one-quarter of the leave jointly, but that portion could not be transferred. Compensation would generally follow the amounts paid for military and civil service; parents on the lowest wages would receive their full salary.

Employed mothers currently qualify for 14 weeks of maternity benefits. Voters approved two weeks of paternity leave in 2020, and it took effect in early 2021.