It’s Mat Leave Monday! Today I’m talking about maternity leave in Sweden. As always when I’m talking about countries outside of Canada I have no first-hand knowledge. For more detailed information in English refer to Financial family policy in Sweden, For families with children, or detailed information on the Parental Benefit (or Föräldrapenning). If you’re looking for information in Swedish you’re on your own.
Sweden is often considered to have the most comprehensive social safety net in the world. Depending on whether you think this is a good thing or not, it’s held up as an example to aspire to or a cautionary tale. So of course I had to look into Sweden’s maternity leave, and see for myself how generous it actually is. Before I tell you what I’ve learned, here are a couple of fun videos to put you in the right frame of mind:
The Daily Show for Americans.
The Daily Show for Canadians, and possibly the rest of the world, I don’t know.
Sweden offers new parents a number of national, government-funded benefits. All birth and adoptive parents or legal guardians are eligible, as well as their partners, regardless of whether they work or not. Although, in Sweden most people do work – single income, two-parent families are not the norm. Sweden’s policies are intended to facilitate the combination of work and family.
Parents with joint custody are each eligible for 240 days of Parental Leave under Swedish law. Up to 180 of these days may be transferred to the other parent, but 60 are reserved for the exclusive use of each parent. If these days are not used, they are lost. Single parents are eligible to receive the total 480 days of leave themselves. In the case of multiple births or adoptions, parents receive an additional 180 days of leave for each additional child.
How much are Swedish parents collecting when they’re on leave? The first 390 days are payable at approximately 80% of your regular income, to a maximum daily rate of SEK 872. This is roughly $131 CAD or $114 USD. If you have little or no income, you receive SEK 180 per day. The last 90 days are paid at the daily rate of SEK 180, regardless of your income. This is approximately $27 CAD or $23.50 USD per day. So your equivalent annual salary while you’re collecting parental benefits ranges from $9900 to $47,800 CAD.
There is some flexibility in how Swedish parents collect parental benefits. They are permitted to take the full amount, and not work at all. But they may also return to work part-time and collect a 3/4, 1/2, 1/4, or 1/8 benefit. So, for instance, if you were to return to work half-time while you are still eligible for parental benefits, you collect half your pay from your employer, and half your parental benefit allocation from the government. You are not, however, allowed to collect parental benefits while you are on holiday. So I guess sunning yourself on the Mediterranean will need to be on your employer’s dime. 
Sweden offers a number of other family-friendly policies as well. Fathers receive 10 days of temporary parental benefits on the birth of a child. Up to 120 days of cash benefit at 80% of your income may be taken each year to care for sick children under the age of 12. Parents also receive SEK 1050 per month ($158 CAD or $137 USD) for children who are still in school, and additional supplements are paid for families with 3 or more children. And government grants to preschools mean that child care is widely available and affordable.
I would say that Sweden’s reputation for having a broad and comprehensive social safety net is well-earned. Their benefits are certainly the longest-lasting and farthest-reaching I’ve come across to date. Since I think that maternity leave is important, I am very impressed with Sweden. And I haven’t even mentioned that amazing lingonberry jam. 
I was very interested to read this as I have an online friend from Sweden and have often learned about their comprehensive system from her. Makes the rest of the world seem pathetic in comparison, really. I would love to see at some point some studies on how families and children are benefiting from these types of leaves – KWIM? What are all the measurable benefits from living in a country with a system like this? I can see some just from knowing someone from Sweden, but of course she and her family are only one example.
Great post!
What a fabulous project you’ve undertaken here with the mat leave stories.
I am from/live in Sweden and am leaving for my fist parental leave today. Our child is not expected until a month from now, but this is another great thing about this leave, you are entitled to it as of 2 months before expected date (to be able to rest and “charge” for what’s ahead). I will stay at home for 1 year and then my husband will take 6-8 months (depending on when we will be able to get into kindergarten – also free for everyone 40 hours/week – another tip for article – how else are both parents supposed to be able to work???). When it comes to becoming a mum and dad, we consider ourselves lucky to live in Sweden. Hoping Canada is OK – must be better than the US?