by EH
In a puzzling divergence from national and regional trends, Friuli Venezia Giulia region has reported a decline in the use of parental leave in 2023, according to the latest figures from the INPS Family Support Observatory.
The report shows that 8,324 employees in FVG took parental leave in 2023, marking a 1.5% decrease from the previous year. The total days of authorized leave also dropped, falling by 2.7% from 374,610 in 2022 to 364,610 in 2023. This translates to an average of about 43.8 days of leave per employee.
Women continue to represent the majority of parental leave users, with 6,018 female employees compared to 2,306 male employees. However, a significant development is the rise in the number of men taking parental leave, which surged by 25% from 2022 to 2023. Meanwhile, the overall decline is largely attributed to a 9% reduction in women applying for leave during the same period.
Experts point to a variety of factors behind these trends. Roberta Nunin, a labor law professor at the University of Trieste, suggests that improved early childhood services and more flexible workplace policies may have reduced the necessity for parents to rely on parental leave. “Despite recent reforms, the compensation for parental leave remains relatively low, which could be discouraging for many families,” Nunin explained.
Under current Italian law, each parent is entitled to three months of leave at 80% pay for the first month and 30% for subsequent months, with an additional three months shared between parents. Starting in 2025, the government plans to increase the 80% paid period to three months. However, these benefits are non-transferable between parents and must be used during the child’s early years.
Economic considerations also play a role in the FVG region, where investments in early childhood services and financial support for families have been prioritized. These efforts may have alleviated some of the pressures that typically lead parents to take extended leave. Yet, the region has work to do in achieving the European Union’s target of providing nursery places for at least 45% of children by 2030.
The rise in remote work and flexible working arrangements following the pandemic is another factor potentially contributing to the decline. With more parents able to balance work and caregiving responsibilities from home, the necessity for formal parental leave may be diminishing.
