An upcoming legislative change will see paternity leave established in the Czech Republic.

The Czech Government has approved a proposed amendment to Act no. 187/2006 Coll. on sickness insurance, allowing new fathers to use the benefit to take paternity leave.

The father of a newborn child can, within six weeks of the child's birth, take paternity leave for the duration of one week. The leave cannot be taken in parts, and for its time the father is compensated with the sickness insurance benefit to the amount of 70% of his average monthly income.

The above amendment, having been passed by the Czech Government now awaits the approval of the Parliament. It's expected to accept the paternity leave, in which case Act No. 187/2006 Coll. on sickness insurance as amended, should be effective from 1 January 2017.

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