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Tell us: What do you think of Sweden's proposed 'family week'?

The Local Sweden
The Local Sweden - [email protected]
Tell us: What do you think of Sweden's proposed 'family week'?
The proposal is intended to give parents more time with their children, including parents who cannot work from home. Photo: Ann-Sofi Rosenkvist/imagebank.sweden.se

One of the measures in Sweden's government's budget proposal is the introduction of an additional week of paid leave for parents and guardians.

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The measure, long floated by the Social Democrats, means that parents can take up to six days' leave paid at 80 percent of their salary in order to spend time with their children. The policy only applies to parents with children aged between four and 16, and in cases where a child has two caregivers they will get three days each, while single parents will get the full six.

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The government hopes the week will “facilitate better work-life balance, reducing stress for parents, and increasing time together for children and parents.” 

But critics include the Swedish Federation of Business Owners and the The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise, for example, which said that the measure would effectively reduce the labour force at a time when businesses are already struggling to find staff. 

We would like to hear what our readers, Sweden's international residents, think of the proposal. Please fill out the short two-minute survey below to share your opinions, whether you are a parent or not. We will publish some of the answers we receive in an article; there is an option to remain anonymous.

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Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

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Anonymous 2021/10/12 19:26
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Anonymous 2021/09/23 10:21
Sweden is very family orientate state that is clear and good but don't parents already get many days off to stay home with their kids and VAB days with work? how much time off do they need? Plus, don't parents say they are always so happy to go back to work after the kids have been at home on holiday?! Joking aside I think parents have enough days allowance to not need more time off work. Of course I fully understand is the child needs medical assistance or treatment meaning the parent has to stay home from work, but i don't think it is the case for this proposed family week.

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