Sejm agrees legislative changes allowing fathers to receive paternity benefit

The Sejm decided on Friday that a father who takes time off work to care for his child will have the right to receive benefit. Two months ago the Sejm changed the labor code, granting a father the right to ten weeks of paternity leave, once the mother has completed 16 weeks of time off work. However, in their original deliberations, deputies failed to vote for the necessary legislative changes to entitle a father to receive paternity benefit. Friday's vote was on a motion submitted by the Freedom Union (UW) to alter the sickness and maternity benefits act. "The number of people with a higher education is increasing in Poland, so families will frequently take advantage of the possibility of sharing care for the child," said UW deputy Jan Litynski. The amendments will next be passed to the Senate for approval. (Gazeta Wyborcza, July 21-22, p. 4) A.Z