The group behind the popular vote demanding four weeks (20 days) of paternity leave has decided to withdraw its initiative and to accept the government’s counter proposal of two weeks (10 days), according to RTS.
![Referendum calling for 4 weeks paternity leave is withdrawn](https://i0.wp.com/lenews.ch/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Paternity-leave_1_©-Pojoslaw-_-Dreamstime.com_.jpg?fit=602%2C400&ssl=1)
From 2021, fathers of newborns will qualify for two weeks of paid paternity leave. Currently there is no paid leave for new fathers in Switzerland.
At a press conference this week the group announced that it would prefer to push for parental leave instead of separate leave for fathers.
Parental leave, a shared pool of leave that mothers and fathers can apportion between themselves, is favoured by a government commission that looked at the issue.
More on this:
RTS article (in French) – Take a 5 minute French test now
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