The increasing discussions on paternity leave in India are directly linked to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 5. In recent weeks there has been increasing support for a paternity leave law. The Supreme Court has “urged” the central government to pass a law recognizing paternity leave by highlighting this fathers should be equally involved in the care of newborns.
Even Raghav Chadha (Member of Rajya Sabha) recently advocated for the need for paternity leave and highlighted how the responsibility of Care falls disproportionately on the mother.
Policy gaps and unequal access to paternity leave
Central government employees, under Central Civil Service (Vacation) Rules.You will receive up to 15 days of paternity leave. State government employees also receive paternity leave, but the length of these provisions varies from state to state. With the exception of government employees, the majority of India’s male workforce, comprising men in the private sector, unorganized sector and also start-ups, do not get statutory paternity leave.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals were adopted a decade ago and the achievement of these goals is still a long way off in India. Our country’s progress towards these goals, particularly SDG 5, which calls for the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, has been quite uneven.
Inequalities are an integral part of Indian society and its provision Child care leave also supports the same narrative. For the first two children, mothers receive 26 weeks of paid maternity leave. Fathers have no legal right to such benefits. This directly indicates the level of progress in achieving it SDG 5 in India.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals were adopted a decade ago and the achievement of these goals is still a long way off in India. Our country’s progress towards these goals, particularly SDG 5, which calls for the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, has been quite uneven.
Target 5.4 of Sustainable Development Goal 5 calls for the recognition and appreciation of unpaid care and the promotion of shared domestic responsibility. In India, childcare and housework are still heavily feminized today. The lack of a law mandating paternity leave, which is a care distribution mechanism, means India remains significantly behind in achieving this goal.
Why is this worrying?
Achieving gender equality is one of the key issues worldwide, especially in third world countries like ours. In India, Gender inequality is normalized to the core. According to NFHS 5 data, over 30% of women justified domestic violence against women in 14 out of 18 states and union territories surveyed.
FII
Emancipation was not an issue for these respondents because the problem had not yet been identified. Such deep-rooted patriarchy can also be observed in the context of child care, where unequal contributions have been normalized. The lack of paternity leave legislation is likely to allow this unequal situation to continue and consequently hinder India’s progress towards SDG5.
Another point that needs to be highlighted is that India is a largely heterogeneous state and the implementation of central legislation is unlikely to be uniform. Will a paternity leave law automatically lead to shared childcare responsibilities in a country where patriarchy is so deeply rooted? However, the gaps and implementation problems cannot be resolved until the law is passed. The law itself is expected to represent a major step forward in achieving gender equality.
Paternity leave with regard to women’s labor force participation
Although women’s labor force participation in India has increased in recent years, the numbers remain low, particularly compared to global standards (World Bank) and discrimination against female applicants continues. There remains a widespread perception that women are likely to become mothers and that this may affect their engagement or commitment to their careers. As a result, many employers remain skeptical about hiring or promoting women in the labor market. This discrimination is further reinforced by the lack of paternity leave provisions. Because fathers are not legally entitled to paternity leave, employers often assume and expect a higher level of honesty from male employees.
This is also related to the normalization of patriarchy, where women are expected to give up their jobs and goals and be a “self-sacrificing” mother. A self-sacrificing mother is often praised for her credibility as a mother, and women who hold on to their dreams and want to continue their work after giving birth are frowned upon by society.
This is also related to the normalization of patriarchy, where women are expected to give up their jobs and goals and be a “self-sacrificing” mother.
In this context, it can be argued that paternity leave is more than just a welfare policy, as its introduction is expected to reduce gender-related career losses. Without an institutional mandate on paternity leave, the market is unlikely to change its attitudes and perceptions and the achievement of the global commitment under Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Goal 5.4) will be further jeopardized.
In conclusion, a paternity leave law will be more than just a welfare regime as it will introduce structural interventions by enabling a redistribution of care work and addressing deep-rooted gender inequalities. Even if the adoption of a law alone cannot bring about comprehensive structural change, it is likely to be an important starting point. Without statutory paternity leave provisions, childcare will continue to be viewed as a “mother’s job,” undermining women’s participation in the labor market and hindering the achievement of economic equality and the broader global goal of SDG 5. The “sacrificing mother” narrative continues to be glorified and any woman who chooses to stand out will face backlash or criticism from her family and society.
The introduction of a statutory paternity leave policy is desirable for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Goal 5.4) in India, as without such structural interventions, gender equality would remain an agenda that is not adequately implemented in reality.