site.btaParliament Amends Labour Code to Improve Parental Leave Rights

On Thursday the members of Parliament adopted at first and second reading amendments to the Labour Code, which provide the possibility for fathers to take leave for raising a child up to 2 years of age, in cases where the mother is deprived of parental rights over the child or the exercise of these rights is granted to the father under the established procedure. The amendments were voted on en bloc with 159 votes in favour.

The Labour Code now provides that the father may exercise this right in the event of the mother's death or serious illness. It remains possible, with the father's consent, to transfer these leaves to one of his parents or to one of the mother's parents when she is employed. 

On behalf of the sponsors, the bill was presented by Denitsa Sacheva of GERB-UDF, who pointed out that the changes, although affecting few cases, would fill a gap in the exercise of parental rights by fathers and would make a step in overcoming prejudices regarding the role of fathers in shared parenthood.