The Central-Western Interregional Department of the State Labor Service provided clarification regarding the possibility of both parents being on leave to care for a child up to three years old at the same time.
The question arose in a case where there are two young children in a family: one child is 2 years old, the other is only 2 months old. Can both parents exercise the right to such leave - each to care for a separate child?
The State Labor Service explained: yes, they can. The legislation stipulates that each child is a separate basis for granting leave for care until he or she reaches the age of three. This means that both parents can be on leave at the same time if each of them is caring for a different child.
To apply for such leave, it is necessary to provide the birth certificate of the child in question and an official document confirming that the other parent has not exercised this right (for example, a certificate from the other parent's place of work).
Parental leave is not the exclusive right of one parent - it can be granted to both the mother and the father, as well as to other relatives who actually provide care.
