Swiss Initiative Proposes 18-Week Leave for Each Parent

Left-leaning alliance launches popular initiative calling for 36 weeks total parental leave, aiming to transform Switzerland's family policy.

A new popular initiative proposes a total of 36 weeks of parental leave in Switzerland.
Current Swiss law provides 14 weeks of paid maternity leave and 2 weeks of paid paternity leave.
The proposed 18 weeks per parent would be non-transferable.
The initiative committee has until October 1, 2026, to gather signatures.

18 weeks

leave per parent

2,500

full-time workers per year

20 years

payback period

100,000

signatures required

"A strong society and economy through parental leave"
— Initiative Title

"A system of separate non-transferable pots of child care is coercive and discriminatory."
— Critics of the initiative

Shattering the Status Quo: A 36-Week Revolution

A new popular initiative proposes a total of 36 weeks of parental leave in Switzerland.
Current Swiss law provides 14 weeks of paid maternity leave and 2 weeks of paid paternity leave.
The proposed 18 weeks per parent would be non-transferable.
The initiative committee has until October 1, 2026, to gather signatures.