Mirian Gom 
FRANCE – France has introduced a new paid parental leave scheme that allows mothers and fathers to share additional paid time off following the birth or adoption of a child, as President Emmanuel Macron’s government steps up efforts to reverse the country’s declining birth rate.
The reform takes effect on Wednesday and forms part of Macron’s broader demographic strategy announced in 2024 to address falling fertility rates and rising concerns over France’s ageing population.
Under the new policy, parents can now share an extra one or two months of leave in addition to existing maternity and paternity entitlements. During the first additional month, parents will receive 70 per cent of their net salary, while the second month will be compensated at 60 per cent.
The paid parental leave provisions apply to parents of children born on or after 1 January 2026 and extend to adoptive parents.
The latest reform builds on France’s existing family support policies. Until now, mothers were entitled to just under four months of paid maternity leave for their first child, while fathers could take up to 28 days of paid leave after childbirth.
The government says the additional leave is intended to provide families with greater flexibility during the early months of a child’s life while encouraging parents to share childcare responsibilities more equally.
According to France’s National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE), the country registered more deaths than births last year for the first time since the end of the Second World War, highlighting the scale of its demographic challenge.
However, feminist organisations have criticised the new paid parental leave measures, arguing that they fall short of promoting genuine gender equality.
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Korede Abdullah 
