Switzerland held a referendum on 27 through the father to enjoy paternity leave. Switzerland became law last Western European country to guarantee paternity leave for fathers.
The results of the referendum showed that the Swiss people supported a father's entitlement to 10 days of paid paternity leave, which was only one day before the referendum.
Relatively speaking, Swiss people can even move to enjoy a day of paid leave, so no paternity leave has long been criticized.
Swiss parliament last year passed an increase of 10 days in paternity leave law, but a conservative political group collected more than 50,000 signatures petition, according to Switzerland's direct democracy, the bill passed can only be put into effect by referendum.
Views of both sides
Opponents of father's paternity leave insist that statutory paternity leave places a burden on small businesses. It is unfair, they say, to have the majority pay for the minority. Furthermore, those who oppose government excessive intervention are also dissatisfied with paternity leave.
Proponents argue that paternity leave is a positive step towards equality and a balance between life and work, especially for new dads.
They also believe that paternity leave helps break the traditional gender stereotype.
At the same time, many people point out that in terms of paternity leave rights, Switzerland is at the bottom of the list in Europe.
Gender inequality
Image of Finland
Although Switzerland is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of per capita income, it still lags significantly behind other countries in terms of gender equality.
Hard to believe, Swiss women did not get a vote until 1971 rights, and before 1988, the wife had to get her husband's consent to go out to work.
The Swiss referendum on a 10-day paid paternity leave for fathers was the right step for supporters towards gender equality.
Three-fifths of Swiss voters supported paternity leave, with the French and Italian regions having the most supporters.
Gaps remain
According to the referendum law, from 1 January next year, within six months of the birth of a child, the father is entitled to 10 days' leave ,80 per cent of the salary for 10 days' leave, up to a maximum of CHF 196 per day (approximately US $210).
Compared with alliance European countries, there is still a large gap in paternity leave treatment in Switzerland.
Switzerland is not a member alliance Europe. EU last year adopted a rule requiring member states to increase paternity leave by four months, two of which can not be transferred to spouses, and EU member states must complete legislation. by 2022
In addition, paternity leave, which was adopted by the Swiss referendum, only to the biological father of the child, who does not qualify for paternity leave if he is an adoptive child or a same-sex parent.
Other referendum issues
Another issue in the Swiss referendum is the EU's policy of citizen free movement
Another international issue in the Swiss referendum is that the Swiss people do not agree to a proposal to block the free movement of European alliance citizen.
62% of voters voted for free movement citizen the EU and 38% opposed it.
The Swiss People's Party's proposal opposes the EU people's free movement policy and advocates controlling EU immigration, but opponents believe that abolishing the EU free movement policy will lead to a economic recession, deprive the free rights. of thousands of Swiss people to work and live in EU countries
