What if Indian mothers got this much maternity leave? Here’s how 7 countries provide the best support for new parents

Sweden is like the global leader in family friendly policies. Its maternity and parental leave system is among the world’s most generous. Mothers can take maternity leave around childbirth, while parents together are entitled to 480 days (around 16 months) of paid parental leave, much of it paid at around 80% of salary. The policy encourages both parents to share childcare, with dedicated leave reserved for each parent.

One of the most essential features of Sweden’s policy is that it also encourages fathers to take part in childcare.