Through the new WIEG law (the Dutch word for ‘cradle’), the Netherlands secured paid birth leave for partners of mothers. From January 2019, the new policy provides those within formal employment with five days of fully paid partner leave. This will be extended to five weeks of non-transferable partner leave paid at 70 per cent of normal pay from July 2020.
This case study details how the partnership between Bernard van Leer Foundation, Rutgers and WOMEN Inc. aligned perspectives on children’s needs, men’s needs and women’s needs to support policy change on paid birth leave.
The alliance identified a need for collective action to introduce birth leave legislation and saw an opportunity to join forces and tackle the issue from multiple perspectives.
We commissioned this case study with RAND Europe as part of a series that explores successful advocacy initiatives for the early years.
This collection of five case studies from RAND Europe sheds light on the power of advocacy for early childhood.