Parliament strikes down paternity leave plan

Switzerland’s House of Representatives has struck down a proposal to give men two weeks of paid paternity leave. Its supporters are now preparing to launch a people’s initiative.  The proposal, from centrist Christian Democratic parliamentarian Martin Candinas, called for new fathers to be given leave paid at 80% of their salary for a period of two weeks after their child is born. The incurred costs of about CHF200 million ($205 million) annually would be assumed collectively by employers through the income replacement fund.  New mothers in Switzerland currently get 14 weeks of leave financed under the same scheme.  The paternity leave proposal on Wednesday failed in the House by a vote of 97 to 90 with five abstentions.  In calling on his colleagues to support paternity leave, Candinas said a father’s presence after the birth of a child is essential for a stable family life.  “Paternity leave makes sense for the family and for society as a whole,” he argued. ...