Portugal has become a world-class benchmark for paternity leave policies and for encouraging fathers to participate in child-rearing. Immigrating to Portugal allows you to enjoy the paternity leave system. The International Labour Organization recently commended Portugal for its exemplary paternity leave policy, which not only calls on companies to provide fathers with 10-15 days of paternity leave but also offers leave around the time of a pregnant partner's prenatal check-ups. It is reported that this is a social movement initiated by France aimed at increasing fathers' involvement in child-rearing.
A study titled "Trends in Working Women" states that although there are differences in paternity leave systems across countries, data from 178 countries show that paternity leave systems have made progress on an international scale.
Globally, Portugal, along with the three Nordic countries of Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, has been rated as a benchmark country at the forefront of maternity and paternity leave. According to a study released by the OECD, Portugal ranks fifth in the world for the duration of maternity and parental leave and is expected to reach 21 weeks of parental leave this year.
What is the purpose of paternity leave?
Let's take a real-life example: in December 2015, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg took 2 months of (parental leave) for the birth of his daughter. Furthermore, starting in January 2016, all parents at Facebook who have just had a child, as well as same-sex partners who adopt a child, are eligible for 4 months of paid leave to spend time with their newborn. This news made headlines on major websites and received widespread praise.
"Father's Paternity Leave" has many benefits
There are many benefits to men taking "paternity leave," which is conducive to the health of both the mother and the infant. During maternity leave, women are physically weak and naturally need more care from their husbands. Moreover, mothers often experience heavy psychological pressure and mood swings. Having a husband nearby to provide care can ensure that both the wife and the baby are better looked after, and it also helps to alleviate the mother's anxiety, which is very helpful for a smooth delivery, postpartum recovery, and breastfeeding.
It is beneficial for the intellectual development of the newborn. Although newborns cannot speak and their vision is not well-developed, their sensory perception is acute, making this the best time to receive affection from their parents. A father's voice and scent provide information to the newborn, which is beneficial for the baby's sensory development and the formation of a strong character later in life--according to a study from the University of Cambridge in the UK, if a father is involved in the early life of an infant, it will have a positive impact on the child's future physical and mental development. They will perform better in terms of social interaction and problem-solving skills, which will become apparent years later.