Estonia: Ministry seeks opinions on changes to parental benefit system

TALLINN - The Estonian Ministry of Social Affairs is seeking opinions on changes to the parental benefit and leave system, according to which parents can decide themselves how long and in what volume they can use the benefits and leave and share between themselves.

The second stage of changing the parental leave and benefit system grants parents the opportunity to use the parental benefit more flexibly than so far and share it between two parents, the ministry said. The bill harmonizes the principles of different parental leaves and in the future the National Social Insurance Board will pay all benefits connected to the parental leave.

"The aim of the second stage of changes to the parental leave and benefits is to offer parents more options," Social Protection Minister Kaia Iva said, adding that this way every family can flexibly combine caring for the child and working in the three years after a child is born.

The new changes are planned to take effect on Apr. 1, 2022.