A new law in Spain is to give fathers ten days paternity leave and make larger companies negotiate sexual equality plans.

7 February 2006

MADRID — A new law in Spain is to give fathers ten days paternity leave and make larger companies negotiate sexual equality plans.

The draft bill, which should enter parliament next month, is designed to bring in a new spirit of sexual equality into the workplace.

One measure will be to allow new fathers to choose between taking ten days paternity leave or 18 days part-time paid leave.

Currently, Spanish men are only allowed two days off compared with paternity rights in the rest of Europe which vary from two to three weeks of leave in countries such as Britain, Sweden, Denmark and France.

The bill would make companies with over 250 employees negotiate 'equality plans' with unions.

These will include ensuring men and women earn the same.

At the moment, women earn on average 30 percent less than men.

It will also aim to make larger firms introduce measures to stop sexual harassment at work.

If they do not do anything after four years, they could face sanctions.

The government will offer companies incentives to encourage them to do this and subsidies to help with the costs.

More flexible hours will also be encouraged under the new legislation.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]