France has introduced a new paid parental leave policy that allows mothers and fathers to share additional time off following the birth of a child, as President Emmanuel Macron’s government seeks to address the country’s declining birth rate.

The new policy, which took effect on Wednesday, gives parents the option of sharing one or two extra months of paid leave in addition to their existing maternity and paternity entitlements.

Under the arrangement, parents will receive 70 per cent of their net salary during the first month of the additional leave and 60 per cent during the second month.

The provisions apply to parents of children born on or after January 1, 2026, and also cover adoptive parents.

Previously, mothers in France were entitled to just under four months of paid maternity leave for a first child, while fathers could take up to 28 days of paid leave after the birth.

The reform is part of a broader initiative announced by President Emmanuel Macron in 2024 to tackle infertility and reverse the country’s falling birth rate, a strategy he described as part of France’s “demographic re-armament.”

The move comes as fertility rates continue to decline across the European Union. According to France’s National Statistics Institute, the country recorded more deaths than births in 2025—the first time this has happened since the end of World War II.

However, some feminist organisations argue that the policy does not go far enough to promote gender equality. They contend that the lower-earning parent, who is often the mother, is still more likely to take the additional leave, limiting the reform’s impact on balancing childcare responsibilities.

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