Mothers get nearly eight times more paid leave than fathers – and women pay the price

Mothers around the world get nearly eight times as much paid leave as fathers, leaving women to shoulder most of the care burden – at a cost to families, children and economies, according to new UN data published on Thursday.On average, mothers receive 196 days of paid leave and fathers just 25, says the policy brief from gender equality agency UN Women and the World Bank Group.In 66 of the 190 economies surveyed, fathers are guaranteed no paid leave at all. In half of the rest, they get less than two weeks.Mothers are not universally protected either. In 61 economies, they get less than the International Labour Organization (ILO) standard of 14 weeks, and in six they are guaranteed no paid leave whatsoever.“Care sustains our families, societies and economies, yet women continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of it,” said UN Women Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda.Sharing the load The brief, From Parenthood Leave to Childcare Services, finds that the parenthood gap shapes family life long after parents return to work. When fathers take leave, they share more of the childcare and housework over the longer term – easing the burden on women, who on average spend ...