French National Assembly Approves Birth Leave Effective January 1, 2026

The French National Assembly has overwhelmingly approved the creation of a birth leave starting January 1, 2026, reversing a Senate amendment that had proposed a 2027 start date. The vote passed 220 to 2 as part of the 2026 Social Security budget. This new leave will allow employees to take either one or two months off after the birth of a child, with the option to split the leave into two one-month periods.

The government plans to set indemnification at 70% of the employee's net salary for the first month and 60% for the second. Lawmakers like Sandrine Rousseau defended the flexibility in taking the leave, highlighting the importance of allowing especially fathers to bond with their newborns. Some legislators pushed for the earliest implementation possible to address gender-based inequalities in the workplace.

However, concerns were raised about the rapid rollout potentially causing delays in indemnity payments, with MoDem's Anne Bergantz warning against rushing the implementation. This birth leave initiative was first announced by President Emmanuel Macron in January 2024 amid concerns over declining birth rates in France.

This legislative move aims to strengthen family support policies and provide parents with more time to care for their newborns, marking a significant step in French social security policy.