As the proportion of fathers (and other co-parents) taking their birth leave in full after a baby is born is increasing – 86% in 2021 compared to 71% in 2010 – a large majority are in favour of making birth leave compulsory, a survey by The Institute for Gender Equality found.
For a long time, fathers in Belgium only had three days of leave when their child was born, but the Institute's new study now shows to what extent the role of the father has evolved in recent years and highlights gender equality issues.
"The introduction of birth leave and its extension to two, three and eventually four weeks were important steps in recognising the role played by the father (or other parent) in the birth of a child," said Liesbet Stevens, Deputy Director of the Institute for Gender Equality.
"The fact that today 86% of workers and civil servants take full birth leave is a very positive sign and a sign of a real social evolution. The number who exercise that right among the self-employed is lower (53%)," she added, explaining that a possible explanation for this could be that birth leave for the self-employed was introduced much more recently.
Change in attitude
Another sign of change in the role of father and co-parent is that 56% of employees say they plan to take parental leave in the future.
In the survey, fathers indicated that the arrival of a child is a great turnaround, due to the joy of becoming a parent but also because it is synonymous with the pressure to find a good balance between private and professional life. 82% of working fathers (or other parents) struggled to reconcile work and family life, the results showed.
"One of the most striking signs of a change in attitudes is the high percentage of beneficiaries (84%) who say they are in favour of compulsory birth leave, including among the self-employed," said Stevens.
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"Making this leave compulsory would make it possible to fight against the non-take-up of entitlements due to a lack of information, but also to protect fathers from possible unfavourable treatment," she added. "And it would contribute to overturning stereotypes in terms of caring for babies."
While birth leave is an opportunity for fathers, it also poses a significant challenge to gender equality, especially in the labour market. Studies unanimously agree that the presence of the father or the other parent in the months following the child's birth has a positive impact on the mother's well-being and her return to work.
Those prevented from exercising their right to birth leave can file a complaint to the Institute via the free telephone number 0800/12 800 (choose number 1 in the menu) or this form.
