A new law recently adopted by Iranian lawmakers allows men working in both state-owned and private companies to go on a two-week paternity leave.
A total of 136 MPs voted ‘yes’ for the new initiative, with 36 voting ‘no’ and two abstaining, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
The law, which was introduced following a recommendation by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is expected to help improve the birth rate in the country, decrease marriage impediments and the average age of first marriage, and create a financial incentive for mothers during pregnancy and through the nursing period.
Iranian MP Soheila Jeloudarzadeh said that the new initiative will allow young mothers to devote more time to raising their adolescent children.
Both laws now have to be reviewed by the Guardian Council of the Constitution before being enacted.
