Fathers and same-sex partners of newborn children in Belgium can now take up to 15 days birth leave from work — up from 10 days — under changes that took effect on 1 Jan 2021, and a further increase to 20 days is scheduled for 1 Jan 2023. Employers will pay for the first three days of the employee’s leave, and the remaining leave will be paid for by the benefits allowance. The provisions for taking leave remain the same — days off can be taken consecutively or split to up to 30 half days, but must be taken within four months of the baby’s birth.

Related resources

•       Law Program (French) (Belgian official journal, 20 Dec 2020)

•       Summary of the law (French) (Belgian government, 20 Dec 2020)