Sweden introduces ‘world first’ paid parental leave for grandparents

A country famed for its generous welfare system has just introduced new paid leave legislation many argue the whole world needs.

Sweden has introduced a “groundbreaking” new law that allows grandparents to get paid parental leave while taking care of their grandchildren.

Two in five grandparents with a grandchild aged under 13 years provide some child care, data obtained in the Families in Australia Survey report shows.

The proportion providing child care was even higher (63 per cent) if the youngest grandchild was under 10 years rather than 10–12 years (33 per cent).

Under the “word first” new legislation, which came into play on July 1, Swedish grandparents can get paid to take care of a grandchild for up to three months of a child’s first year.

Sweden has just introduced ‘world first’ paid parental leave for grandparents. Picture: iStock

To claim the cash, parents have to transfer parental leave to the child’s grandparents for up to 45 days of a child’s first year or 90 days for single parents, according to the Social Insurance Agency, a government agency that administers the social insurance system.

The Swedish social welfare system is famed for having some of the most progressive and generous values in the world.

Its parental benefit is paid out for 480 days, or about 68 weeks, per child.

Of those, the compensation for 390 days is calculated based on a person’s full income, while for the remaining 90 days, people get a fixed amount of 180 kronor (about $26 Australian dollars) per day.

In contrast, the Australian Paid Parental Leave scheme currently provides families up to 20 weeks of payment for a child, with two weeks reserved for each parent in a couple.

The current payment for Parental Leave Pay is $183.16 a day before tax, or $915.80 per five-day week, according to Services Australia.

This is based on the weekly rate of the national minimum wage.

While Australia does not offer the transfer of parental leave to grandparents, some companies have committed to offering this leave.

Social media has erupted since the law came into place, with an overwhelming number of parents arguing the benefit is needed globally.

“This is awesome,” one wrote on TikTok.

“Australia needs this,” another agreed.

As another shared: “Every country needs more work life balance and higher wages for its employees.”

Originally published as Sweden introduces ‘world first’ paid parental leave for grandparents