Israeli Fathers Can Double Paternity Leave and Receive Extra Pay Through National Insurance Benefit

In Israel, paternity leave is among the shortest in developed countries, lasting only five days, with three days deducted from the father's vacation and two from sick leave. However, an underutilized benefit offered by the National Insurance Institute allows fathers to extend their leave through a "parallel leave" option. This enables fathers to take an additional week off during the second week after birth, simultaneously with the mother, without reducing her maternity leave duration.

This parallel leave requires the mother to forgo one week of her maternity pay, which is then transferred to the father, who receives payment based on his salary. Due to wage disparities in Israel, where men earn an average of 18,000 shekels monthly compared to 12,000 for women, this arrangement often results in an extra 1,500 shekels for the family. The benefit not only provides financial support but also strengthens the family bond, allowing the mother to recover and the father to bond with the newborn.

Despite these advantages, only about 350 fathers annually out of approximately 180,000 births apply for this parallel leave. National Insurance officials acknowledge that the right is not fully utilized. Until broader reforms extend paternity leave, families are encouraged to take advantage of this existing legal option by applying through the National Insurance Institute.

New parents Bat-El and Aviv exemplify the common situation where the mother takes six months of maternity leave while the father returns to work immediately due to financial necessity. Aviv expressed a desire to stay home longer but cited economic constraints. Experts emphasize the importance of awareness and utilization of the parallel leave to improve paternal involvement and family welfare in Israel.