The Commission for Equality of the Congress of Deputies has unanimously approved the law which raises paternity leave from the current 15 days to one month.
The law recognises the right to paternity leave in the case of biological paternity, foster care and adoption and is intended to achieve a better reconciliation between work and family life and to promote more joint responsibility between men and women when it comes to raising children.
The PSOE Secretary for Equality, Soledad Cabezón, welcomed the law as an advancement in equality between men and women and added that it put Spain back at the head of the EU on matters such as gender equality and the reconciliation of family and work.
Cabezón also welcomed a report by the Ministry of Equality in Congress in favour of allowing deputies to carry out their duty of voting whilst on paternity or maternity leave either via using a temporary ‘substitute’ or through the use of telematic means.