In a Landmark Decision, Sweden Introduces Law Allowing Grandparents to Get Paid Childcare Leaves

On Monday, Sweden implemented a groundbreaking new law allowing grandparents to receive paid parental leave for up to three months during a child’s first year. This development follows the Swedish parliament’s approval in December of the government’s proposal to transfer parental allowance. This law marks a significant milestone, 50 years after Sweden became the first country to introduce paid parental leave for fathers as well as mothers.

The new law permits parents to transfer some of their generous parental leave allowance to the child’s grandparents. Specifically, a parent couple can transfer up to 45 days, while a single parent can transfer up to 90 days, as detailed by the Social Insurance Agency, which administers the country’s social insurance system.

Sweden, known for its comprehensive taxpayer-funded social welfare system, has long ensured that its citizens are cared for throughout their lives. Swedish parents are entitled to fully leave work when their child is born, receiving parental benefit for 480 days (approximately 16 months) per child. Of these days, compensation for 390 days is based on a person’s full income, while for the remaining 90 days, the benefit is a fixed amount of 180 kronor (about $17) per day.

Swedish parents also benefit from the option to work reduced hours until their child is eight years old, with government employees eligible for reduced hours until the child turns 12. Alexandra Wallin of the Social Insurance Agency told Swedish broadcaster SVT that the new law will provide “greater opportunities” for families.

The rules for grandparents under the new law mirror those for ordinary parental allowance, requiring individuals to be insured for parental allowance, a condition that most Swedes meet. Retirees can also take parental leave, with compensation based on their pension. However, during the period of receiving parental allowance, individuals may not look for work or study.

In the town of Avesta, northwest of Stockholm, resident Ritva Kärkkäinen told SVT that she is considering taking time off work to care for her grandchildren under the new law. Since 1974, when Sweden replaced gender-specific maternity leave with parental leave for both parents, the uptake of paid parental leave by fathers has increased significantly, from just 0.5% initially to around 30% today, according to the Social Insurance Agency.