Jospin backs new French fathers

Jospin said fathers should be part of "the special occasion of birth"

PARIS, France -- New French fathers are in line to get two weeks' paid paternity leave in a move that could cost the government up to 1.6 billion Francs ($205 million) a year.

Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, announcing the plan on Monday, said it would boost paid paternity leave to two full weeks from the current three-day entitlement.

"(The aim is to) contribute to the recognition of the father's role in the first months of a child's life," Jospin told a news conference.

"Fathers, along with mothers, must fully experience the special occasion of birth, so they can welcome the child in the best conditions."

In France, mothers are allowed a 16-week paid leave for their first two children, and 26 weeks for births that follow.

New fathers would have the option of taking two weeks' leave just after the birth of the child, or taking the leave several months later, following the mother's maternity leave, Jospin said.

New fathers would be given full pay on salaries up to $2,000 a month.

Implementing the measure would cost $90 million in the first year.

It is predicted that 40 percent of young fathers will advantage of the new right.

The government is expected to put the plan before parliament in the autumn session and aims for it to become law by January 2002 -- just months before France's presidential and parliamentary elections.

In Europe, Scandinavian countries grant the longest paternity leave. Swedish fathers, for example, are allowed 40 days off following the birth of a child.

Jospin also announced that the state would set aside a $130 million for day care, and said the government would work on a law to simplify divorce procedures, although he did not provide details.