More flexibility in paternity leave

On 29 October 2024, the Hungarian Ministry of National Economy announced that new laws are submitted to the Parliament to increase the period available for requesting paternity leave. As of 2023, the number of paternity leave days was increased from 5 to 10 and the current proposal would go further and give fathers more flexibility in taking paternity leave, with options to split their leave days across different periods.

Current legislation states that in the case of the birth of a child, the father is entitled to 10 days of paternity leave until the end of the second month following the birth of the child. This 2-month period would be increased to 4 as in many cases, this period is not enough to make proper use of the leave. Among other things, in the case of newborns requiring several months of hospitalization due to premature birth or for other reasons, or due to delays in court recognition of paternity.

This change is aimed at better-supporting fathers in balancing family and work responsibilities by providing more adaptable leave options during the early stages of parenthood.