The rules for parental leave are flexible. Part of the parental leave is reserved for the mother, and the rest can be shared among parents. Parts of the parental leave can be delayed or extended, if you want to begin working part-time again. Be aware of the deadlines for giving notice of your parental leave and applying for unemployment benefits.

The Act on Parental Leave gives the parents the right to be absent from work on account of parental and adoption leave. The rule gives parents who are active in the labour market the right to receive unemployment benefits from the municipality during the parental leave.

The rules for taking a leave from work and the rules for unemployment benefits are not completely parallel, since the right to taking a leave from work lasts longer than the right to unemployment benefits.

Taking parental leave according to the law on unemployment benefits

  Before birth After birth
Mother: 4 weeks 14 weeks
(maternity leave)
32 weeks
(parental leave)
8 or 14 weeks
(extension)
Partner:   2 weeks
(partner's leave)
32 weeks
(parental leave)
8 or 14 weeks
(extension)

Remember that in your collective agreement, a right to leave before the birth (for the mother) is specified.

  • Employed in the state: 6 weeks
  • Employed in the municipality or region: 8 weeks
  • Employed in the private sector: depends on the particular collective agreement, but 4 weeks at a minimum
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