Spain officially extends parental leave and introduces paid flexible care
Birth and care leave: 17 weeks per parent
The Royal Decree-Law 9/2025, published today in the Spanish Official Gazette (BOE), officially extends paid birth and care leave to 17 weeks per parent. The reform comes into force on 31 July 2025 and does not apply retroactively. This represents an increase from the 16 weeks in force since 2021.
Additional paid parental leave: 2 weeks with retroactive effect
An additional 2 weeks of paid parental leave are now available for the care of children under 8 years old. These weeks are retroactive from 2 August 2024 and can be taken flexibly (in a block or non-consecutively). With this, each parent may enjoy up to 19 paid weeks of leave.
Single-parent families: 32 weeks in total
For single-parent families, the total leave is extended to 32 weeks: 28 weeks during the child’s first year, and 4 extra weeks available until the child turns 8.
What about the proposed 20 weeks?
Although there is a political commitment to increase parental leave to 20 paid weeks, this measure has not been approved and there is no confirmed date for implementation. It remains under negotiation.
EU compliance and legal pressure
The reform ensures Spain's compliance with EU Directive 2019/1158 on work-life balance, avoiding potential financial sanctions and reinforcing equal and inclusive labour rights.