Poland proposes extending paid parental care leave to age 18

The Polish Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy is proposing an amendment to the Labour Code to extend the eligibility for paid parental care leave. Currently, employees are entitled to two days or 16 hours of paid leave per year to care for a child up to the age of 14. The new project aims to raise this age limit to 18 years.

The proposal does not increase the total number of available days; the annual limit remains at two days or 16 hours. This time can be used for medical appointments, examinations, or other urgent situations requiring a parent's presence. If both parents are employees, they must share a single pool of leave rather than receiving separate entitlements.

The initiative, supported by the Commissioner for Children's Rights and the Supreme Bar Council, is currently undergoing consultations and inter-ministerial negotiations. The government plans to address the legislation in the first quarter of 2027, with the goal of implementation within that same year. While the change aims to support parents of teenagers, some representatives from the Polish Entrepreneurs Federation have expressed concerns regarding the differing needs of older children compared to younger ones.