Paternity leave extended to one month: yes!
Emmanuel Macron, traveling this Wednesday to the Maison de la petitefance de Longjumeau (Essonne), will personally announce this long-awaited societal reform, well aware that to forge a bond of attachment with his baby, 11 days, in addition 3 days of birth leave, "it's too short", recognizes the Elysee.
Already in 2017, the one who was then only a presidential candidate had spoken in favor of such a provision.
“The President of the Republic was sensitive to the strong societal expectations on this subject.
It is an extremely consensual reform since 80% of the population is in favor of extending paternity leave, ”said the presidential palace.
This announcement follows the submission, on September 8, of the report of the so-called 1000 days commission to the Secretary of State for Children and Families, Adrien Taquet.
A commission, chaired by the neuropsychiatrist Boris Cyrulnik, who worked, based on the work of neuroscience, to find devices promoting good health and good development of the child during this key period of the 1000 days.
Either that going from the 4th month of pregnancy, when the fetus begins to interact with its environment, to that where the child pronounces his first sentences.
In addition to paternity leave, the reform of which is deemed "urgent" by the Elysee, other announcements will be made soon by Adrien Taquet.
"Finally, we are heard!"
Pre- and post-pregnancy follow-up with home visits, support structures for parents, prevention of parental burnout that can lead to violence ... The numerous recommendations of the committee aim to include in public policies the importance of these first 1000 days where the rate of growth is unparalleled on the scale of a lifetime.
And among the proposed measures: paternity leave at nine weeks.
It will therefore be a month, part of which will be made compulsory, regardless of the employment contract.
Two days ?
Two weeks ?
The length of this mandatory period is under discussion.
The aim is thus to facilitate the taking of this leave for future fathers who may be under pressure from the employer not to do so.
According to opinion polls, it is above all the CSPs - who are waiting for it firmly.
Currently, 67% of fathers (and second parents for homoparental families) claim this leave created in 2002. “Finally, we have agreed!
We would have liked a little more but we were asking for a minimum month, so this is already a strong signal, ”says Pascal Van Hoorne, founder of the blog“ Histoires de papas ”and active activist for the extension of paternity leave.
“This mandatory part of paternity leave will move the lines because it is, as it stands, very discriminating.
It is especially the most advantaged who take it, ”he explains.
Make fathers more confident
What are the benefits?
“The father's engagement with the baby has positive effects on his development.
The presence of the father or of the second spouse is also important to support the mother, especially in the perinatal period, reducing the risk of mental exhaustion and depression in her, insists the Cyrulnik report.
The longer the leave, the greater the sensitivity of the father, or the second parent, to the child.
Studies in several Nordic countries also illustrate how caring for a baby makes fathers more confident as parents and more concerned with the fair sharing of household chores.
In short, it's all good to promote co-parenting and equality in the couple.
“In the testimonies that we were able to collect in favor of extending this leave, it was very clear that it was impossible to form a team with the mother.
Eleven days is not enough.
The cultural message that is sent with this new measure is that the child is not just the subject of the mother, and that is really cool, ”explains Pascal Van Hoorne.
What about the calendar?
The text should be ready at the start of the year to be presented to parliamentarians.
Objective: entry into force in summer 2021.
