Spain: Uptake of maternity and paternity leave increases

In the first half of 2008, nearly 10% more employees took maternity leave than during the same period in 2007, while some 140,000 men took advantage of a new right to paid paternity leave, according to official figures.

In the first six months of 2008, the National Social Security Institute (INSS) reports that 180,333 people were granted maternity benefit, which is a 9.54% increase on the same period in 2007.