Parental leave gap between men and women narrows in Belgium

Parental leave in Belgium is becoming a more shared responsibility between parents, according to Amandine Bosert, an expert at Acerta. The overall popularity of this thematic leave continues to grow, with the first quarter of the year seeing the highest number of workers ever taking advantage of it. This represents a 0.5% increase compared to the first quarter of 2024 and a significant 70.1% rise since 2017.

The increasing flexibility of the parental leave system, particularly the introduction of options like taking leave at 1/10th or 1/5th of the normal working time, is cited as a key factor in this trend. The 1/5th option, in particular, has emerged as the most popular choice among employees.

“

We observe that parental leave is increasingly becoming a shared responsibility.

Acerta views this shift towards more shared parental leave as a positive development, describing the 1/5th leave arrangement as a "good compromise for the family and the company." This growing trend indicates a move towards a more equitable distribution of childcare responsibilities within Belgian families.

“

It's a good compromise for the family and the company.