Paternity leave for working dads: Is 10 days enough?

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I have a friend whose wife is going to be giving birth in a few months, and just a few days ago we were chatting about the three days he’d be taking as his paternity leave.

Then just like that, he found out yesterday that as a new dad, he’ll be able to take 10 days’ paid parental leave, which will be paid out of the Unemployment Insurance Fund. This comes after our very own President signed the Labour Laws Amendment Bill into law.

"The Labour Amendment Act also includes provisions for 10 weeks of parental adoption leave if the baby is under the age of two years (applies to one parent only) and surrogacy leave, as well as increased UIF and maternity benefits," Mail & Guardian reports.

It is also said that parents who aren't covered by maternity leave will be entitled to the days when their child is born, and even when adoption has been granted. Also, if both are adoptive parents, one can take adoptive leave, while the other can take the entitled 10 days parental leave.

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While I think that the three days my friend was going to take is laughable, at least the 10 days is a step in the right direction. Whether it’s enough is another story.

But how much is enough? Well, realistically, I’d say anything from three weeks to a month for a working dad. Surely after a child is born, fathers play a vital role, too?

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Not only does the dad provide huge support to both the mother and the child, but I think it's also only fair for him to take turns visiting the crib and feeding the baby in the middle of the night. Let's not forget the extended leave will also help if he wants to be a play a part for those vital first few months of the baby’s life.

Do you think 10 days is enough for paternity leave for men? 

Main image courtesy of Pexels/Juan Pablo Arenas