Why paternity leave matters: lessons from Oman and beyond

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the ILO Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183), the ILO has published a new report, "Closing the Gender Gap in Paid Parental Leaves", which reveals that globally, women receive an average of five months more paid parental leave than men. Closing this gap is critical for achieving gender equality in the workplace, ensuring both parents share caregiving responsibilities at home and maximizing productivity at work.

This episode of the ILO’s Future of Work podcast analyses the impact of the parental leave gap on various regions of the world. It also explores Oman’s pioneering role in addressing this gap through the first-ever paternity leave entitlement in the Arab States and the adoption of an innovative financing model to support paternity leave for all. ILO maternity protection expert Laura Addati and Omani government representative Khadija Al Mawali unpack what this means for families, workplaces and societies, and why fairer parental leave policies can lead to more productive and inclusive economies worldwide.