Parental leave extended two weeks

In December 2017 the Faroese Parliament decided to make amendments to the Parental Leave Act, coming into effect on the 1st of January 2018. The biggest change is that the duration of the leave is extended by two weeks. Other amendments include that as of the 1st of March 2018 pension contributions are paid on top of the parental benefits.

All those who are on parental leave the 1st of January 2018 are affected by the amendments
This includes parents who on the 1st of January 2018 still have not had their final payment even if their parental leave ended in December 2017.

What has changed?

The basic parental leave is extended from 44 to 46 weeks after childbirth.
Parents of multiple newborns have their leave extended from 48 to 50 weeks after childbirth.
Parents of premature babies have their leave extended from 52 to 54 weeks after childbirth.
Adoptive parents have their leave extended from 48 to 50 weeks after placement.

Other amendments include

Pension contributions are paid on top of the parental benefits after the 1st of March 2018.
The deadline for applying for parental benefits is extended to 1 year after childbirth/placement of an adoptive child, this concerns all children born or adopted after the 1st of January 2017.
It is no longer required that public institutions hire substitutes for apprentices that take parental leave.

Notify Barsilsskipanin of your wishes regarding the extended leave

Parents, who are on parental leave and to whom the extended leave is relevant, must get their employer to notify Barsilsskipanin about how they wish the extended leave to be held - i.e. when it is to be taken and by whom. If the parents do not have an employer, they must notify Barsilsskipanin themselves.

The notification can be sent by e-mail to barsil@taks.fo