A citizens' group presented a proposal to extend initial parental leave to six months in Portugal. The bill was approved in general in January, but it will only be discussed and voted on in committee next Wednesday. The parties thus had time to analyze the initiative and present their amendment proposals.
PSD, Bloco de Esquerda, Livre, PCP and Chega proposed amendments to the citizens' initiative. Among the changes suggested by the parties are parental leave up to eight months, subsidies for premature babies and specific protection for single-parent families.
The original proposal to extend parental leave to six months aims to give parents more time to care for their children in the first months of life. The parties are now proposing to go beyond that amount, with some political forces defending an even longer period.
The debate in committee next Wednesday will be the opportunity for parties to discuss and vote on their amendment proposals to the bill. The result could lead to a final text different from what was approved in general.
