ILO Care Economy Brief
Closing the gender gap in paid parental leaves Better parental leaves for a more caring world of work
This policy brief by the International Labour Organization (ILO) explores the persistent global gender gap in paid parental leaves and its implications for gender equality in the world of work.
Marking the 25th anniversary of the Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183), the brief presents new data showing that mothers are entitled to an average of 24.7 weeks of paid parental leaves, while fathers receive just 2.2 weeks, a gap of over five months.
It examines the social and economic costs of this disparity and outlines policy options to support more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable parental leave systems that recognize the right to maternity protection to all women and the caregiving role of both parents.