Row over baby leave for dads

– Austria’s leaders are coming under increasing pressure to grant statutory paternity leave to all fathers, despite fierce resistance in business circles.

Austria has allowed fathers to take an unpaid month off following the birth of their children – the so-called “papamonat”, or daddy’s month – since 2017, but at the employer’s discretion.

During the four weeks, the new dads receive €700 (R10 900) in social security payments – a right the country’s opposition parties want to extend to all fathers without the need for boss approval.

The Social Democrats, Greens and liberal NEOS party are calling for the change, as well as the far-right Freedom Party (FPO), the junior partner in the ruling coalition with Chancellor Sebastian Kurz’s conservatives.

Deputy Chancellor and FPO chief Heinz-Christian Strache returned to work this week after taking a month off following the birth of his son, Hendrik. “The time enables you, as a father, to form an important bond with your child and it is really good,” the 49-year-old politician said.

More than 8%of new dads – or 7 338 in all – took advantage of the papamonat in 2018.

But companies point to the booming economy, where unemployment is low at 4.7%, but a lack of qualified personnel is beginning to make itself felt. –