Portugal Debates 6-Month, 100 % Paid Parental Leave—Government Pushes 50/50 Split

The Portugal Assembly of the Republic has moved one step closer to extending paid parental leave to 6 months, a decision that could reshape how families juggle work and childcare as early as 2027.

Key Takeaways

• 180 paid days: Citizens’ bill would guarantee 100 % salary for the full 6 months, with no strings attached on how parents share the time.

• Government counter-offer: The draft labour-law package “Trabalho XXI” also promises 100 % pay—but only if parents split the extra 60 days 50-50.

• Budget impact tops €400 M: Social-security spending on parental benefits is already pencilled into the 2026 State Budget.

• Earliest start date: Any reform passed this spring is unlikely to apply until babies born after January 2027.

Why the Debate Refuses to Die

For 2 decades, Portugal has tweaked parental leave almost every legislature, yet 95 % of long absences are still taken by mothers. When more than 42 000 voters delivered a citizens’ petition in late-2025, demanding a “full-pay, six-month standard”, politicians could not ignore it. The Socialist-led government saw an opening to push its own labour-reform agenda, while the centre-right PSD and CDS-PP argued the issue belongs in Concertação Social, the tripartite forum where unions and employers hash out labour rules.

Inside the Two Proposals

Citizens’ Initiative• Turns the current 180-day option—now paid at 83 % under certain conditions—into a flat 100 % wage replacement regardless of who uses it.• Adds a 210-day version paid at 80 % or 100 % if the father takes at least 30 consecutive days.• Levels the playing field by giving identical non-transferable quotas to each parent.

Government’s “Trabalho XXI”• Keeps 120 days at 100 % and 150 days at 80 % as today.• Unlocks 180 days at 100 % only when the extra two months are split 30 + 30 days.• Doubles the father’s mandatory leave right after birth from 7 to 14 consecutive days.

The PSD and CDS-PP say they respect the citizens’ push but prefer the government model because “real equality needs shared time, not prolonged maternal absence.”

The Money Question

The Portugal Ministry of Finance estimates that each additional month paid at full salary costs about €70 M/year. Factoring in take-up rates, the upgrade to a universal 180-day, 100 % benefit could lift parental-leave spending by up to 23.6 % in 2027. Business federations back the citizens’ plan, hoping longer, predictable absences will reduce costly staff churn, while union confederations insist the state, not companies, must fund the benefit.

What This Means for Residents

Parents planning children in 2027 can already calculate higher take-home pay during leave; however, whether both parents must split that leave remains uncertain.

Employers need to budget for longer vacancies and may revisit remote-work arrangements to retain staff post-leave.

Self-employed workers—often overlooked—should watch the final text; early drafts promise proportional coverage, but details on qualifying income windows are still fluid.

Gender-equality advocates caution that, without mandatory sharing, women could face an even longer “CV gap.” Families wanting the father to stay home must keep lobbying for clear incentives.

Timeline and What to Watch

• March–April 2026: Parliamentary committee hearings merge the two texts; amendments expected on cost-sharing and eligibility.• May 2026: Final plenary vote. PSD and CDS abstentions could again leave passage to a left-leaning majority.• Mid-2026: Constitutional review and presidential promulgation.• State Budget 2027: Financial envelope triggers the new rules; only babies born after the budget date qualify.

If lawmakers reconcile the two visions, Portugal could soon offer one of Europe’s most generous, gender-balanced leave schemes. The fine print—split or optional sharing—will decide whether the reform levels the career field or cements old roles.