Changes to childbirth allowances and parental leave approved

To assist families and address demographic issues, the House of Representatives changed the laws regarding childbirth allowances and parental leave. The new law increases a child's eligibility for parental leave from the age of 8 to 15. This continues until age 21 for children with disabilities. For a second child, parents will now earn 10 weeks of paid leave, for a third, they will receive 12 weeks, and for a fourth and beyond, they will receive 14 weeks.

Childbirth allowances will also rise starting on October 1, 2024. For their first child, mothers will receive €1,000; for their second, €1,500; for their third, €2,000; and for each additional kid, €2,500. Every year, these benefits will be modified in accordance with basic insurable salaries.

The decision received approval by Labour Minister Yannis Panayiotou, who pointed out that it is a component of a larger government effort to support demographic recover. Over 68,000 more parents and 8,000 families are anticipated to benefit each year from the changes, which will raise government spending by €17.9 million.

Due to demographic concerns, several opposition members opposed allowances for foreign parents, sparking political conflict. In order to effectively address dropping birth rates, other MPs underlined the need for more comprehensive policies, such as better housing, greater earnings, and accessible childcare.