The United Nations (UN) has implemented a new policy that expands parental leave to 16 weeks.
This was announced by the UN’s economist for digital government and investment facilitation Ian Richards on a LinkedIn post.
“I am pleased that as of 2023, a new UN parental leave policy is in place with the following benefits: 16 weeks for each parent (includes same-sex, surrogacy and adoption); a further 10 weeks for the birth mother; and leave can be taken within one year of becoming parents and is retroactive for those who became parents in 2022,” Richards said.
Richards was among the UN leaders who pushed for the organisation to recognise the World Health Organisation recommendations for six months exclusive breastfeeding for infants, enable equal workload between parents, and acknowledge the diversity of who can become parents.
