Belgian Fathers Drive Record Parental Leave Uptake
A record number of Belgian fathers are taking parental leave, with new data showing a 70% increase over the past decade. However, for the first time since the system was introduced 20 years ago, overall parental leave usage is declining — driven by fewer mothers taking time off work.
As of the end of April 2026, 41,597 fathers and 66,286 mothers were on paid parental leave in Belgium’s private sector, according to HR services provider SD Worx. The number of fathers using the scheme has surged 122% in nine years, ONEM data cited by DH shows.
A Tale of Two Trends
Anneleen Verstraeten, Legal Advisor at SD Worx, described the diverging trends: “At the beginning of May 2026, there are fewer parents on paid parental leave in Belgium than a year earlier. Two opposing trends are emerging: more fathers (+370) are taking paid parental leave, while at the same time, fewer mothers are doing so (-475).”
In 2025, over 106,000 parents were on paid parental leave on average. Based on the first four months of 2026, that annual average has dropped to 105,379, as reported by La Libre via Belga.
The most popular formula among fathers is the one-day-per-week reduction (1/5th time), which allows them to maintain a strong professional presence while gaining valuable time at home.
Changing Social Norms
Madeleine Guyot, President of the Ligue des Familles, attributed the rise to broader cultural shifts. “This development follows the trend in the uptake of other family leave by fathers, such as paternity leave,” she told DH. “Fathers are ready to get involved from birth.”
The trend reflects a generational change in attitudes toward caregiving. Younger fathers increasingly view childcare as a shared responsibility, and the normalization of paternity leave has made parental leave a more accessible option for men.
The Compensation Barrier
Despite the progress, women still account for two-thirds of all parental leave taken. Experts point to a key obstacle: low compensation. The flat-rate allowance amounts to approximately €900 per month for full-time leave — a significant income reduction for most workers.
Céline Cocq, Study Officer at the Ligue des Familles, explained the dynamic to RTBF: “Parental leave is very poorly compensated. To give you an idea, if you take a month, you get an allowance of 900 euros. That’s still, for most people, a fairly significant loss of income. For us, it’s certain that if we increase the allowance, if we revalue this parental leave, probably men will be more inclined to take it and the gap will close more quickly.”
Because men on average earn higher salaries, the financial penalty of taking leave is often greater for fathers, discouraging uptake despite changing attitudes.
Self-Employed Left Behind
A notable gap in the system is the exclusion of self-employed parents. Johan, a self-employed father of two, told RTBF: “Fathers, fortunately, are starting to become a little more aware of this. And they realize that it’s important and that there is more to life than work. And that it’s not just mothers who have to carry everything.”
He added: “What’s difficult is that everything pushes us as men to stay focused on our work, on our career, and not to take care of the children. It’s a shame that more isn’t done in the system, because institutions have that power.”
Starting in 2028, self-employed parents will become eligible for one week of parental leave, gradually increasing to four months — the same entitlement as salaried employees.
What’s Next
The Belgian government has proposed a major “sac à dos” (backpack) reform that would consolidate multiple leave types into a single child-linked entitlement. However, as the Ligue des Familles notes, no concrete details on duration, compensation, or allocation rules have been defined.
The data was released on Father’s Day, June 14, 2026, prompting coordinated coverage across Belgian media. While the rise in fathers taking leave is cause for celebration, advocates argue that meaningful progress requires addressing the financial and structural barriers that still keep many men — and women — from fully sharing caregiving responsibilities.