Parental Leave for Parents and Grandparents: Who Can Get Leave in Ukraine.

In 2021, Ukraine equalized the rights of women and men for parental leave. Now, grandparents can also receive leave without the mandatory certificate from their place of work if they are actually caring for the child. This is reported by Korrespondent.net.

Parental Leave for All

Ukraine is facing a demographic crisis that is deepening every year. According to the State Statistics Service, the population in the country has decreased by 245,000 people and stands at 41.3 million. Low birth rates are a serious problem for Ukraine and Europe as a whole. As statistics show, the birth rate in the country is decreasing every year, requiring measures to be taken to increase the number of born children.

The new law in Ukraine allows parents to take parental leave on equal terms. Now men can legally take parental leave after the birth of a child, regardless of their wife's job. This alleviates the situation for those men who are unable to take leave due to this legislative conflict.

How to Apply for Parental Leave

To obtain parental leave, women must have a certain package of documents, depending on their status (employed, unemployed, entrepreneurs, etc.). This package of documents must be submitted to the Social Insurance Fund along with the application and other necessary documents.

How Long Does Parental Leave Last

Usually, parental leave lasts for 126 calendar days, but in some cases (the birth of twins, difficult deliveries) this period can be extended to 140 days. The duration of parental leave is counted toward a woman's work experience, allowing her to receive additional leave.

In 2021, Ukraine decided to equalize the rights of women and men for parental leave and also allow grandparents to take leave if they are genuinely caring for the child. This step will contribute to a more equitable distribution of responsibilities for child care between parents and grandparents and may also have a positive impact on the demographic situation in a country where birth rates continue to decline.