ILO Calls for Expanded Paternity Leave as Mexico Advances Reform

As debates around gender equality and family-friendly workplaces continue across Latin America, the International Labour Organization (ILO) has renewed its call to close the global gap in paid paternity leave. The organization’s latest report, Closing the Gender Gap in Paid Paternity Leave, highlights how unequal parental leave policies perpetuate gender imbalances at home and in the workforce.

Lorena Pastor, Economist and Co-Author of the Report, ILO, says that worldwide, mothers receive on average five months more paid leave than fathers. In Latin America and the Caribbean, the gap narrows slightly to about 15 weeks but remains significant. “Reducing the gap between maternity and paternity leave is key to achieving gender equality at work,” says Pastor. “When well-designed, paternity leave strengthens the bond between father and child, supports women’s return to work, and benefits employers through improved retention and motivation.”

The report comes 25 years after the adoption of the ILO’s Maternity Protection Convention (No. 183), which supports at least 14 weeks of maternity leave. While 15 countries in the region meet that standard, most still offer fewer than three weeks of paternity leave. Fourteen nations provide no paid paternity leave at all.

Efforts to advance equal parental rights have gained attention across the region. In Colombia, legislative reforms have aimed to expand paternity leave from two to 12 weeks, though proposals have faced resistance in Congress. Diana Salcedo, Deputy Director of Employment and Social Security, Colombia’s National Planning Department, says that despite ongoing debate, many legislators — both men and women — have opposed extending paternity leave. “This is not only a men’s issue,” she says. “Equal leave is crucial for reducing gender gaps in the labor market and promoting shared responsibility in caregiving.”

Salcedo says that research by the Colombian government found expanding paternity leave could generate up to 18,000 formal jobs if employers replaced a majority of workers on leave. She argues that such policies would not only advance gender equality but also contribute to decent work and economic growth.

In Mexico, legislative reforms seek to extend paid paternity leave from five to 20 working days, and up to 30 in cases of medical complications. In October, the Mexico City Congress passed a resolution urging local government entities, decentralized bodies, and state-run institutions to implement actions that guarantee the incorporation of paternity leave across all sectors. Lawmakers requested that agencies submit detailed reports outlining measures adopted to expand and enforce such leave, in line with the city’s Law on Substantive Equality between Women and Men.

Deputy Royfid Torres says the initiative seeks to balance maternity and paternity leave periods to achieve a fairer distribution of caregiving responsibilities. “We are convinced that investing in care policies transforms people’s lives,” he adds. “Expanding both maternity and paternity leave is a step toward true gender equality.”

Torres says that while mothers in Mexico are entitled to 14 weeks of paid maternity leave, fathers receive only five days, roughly 5% of the time granted to women. He cites ILO data showing that women’s participation in the national labor force remains limited, with 45.5% of economically active workers being women, more than half of whom are employed in informal sectors. This, he says, reflects the ongoing imbalance in family and work responsibilities.

Mexico’s Article 132 of the Federal Labor Law guarantees paid leave for fathers following the birth or adoption of a child. Employers must process requests through the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS). Despite the short duration, many companies are beginning to offer additional benefits such as flexible schedules, remote work options, or extra paid days to support work-life balance.

Private-sector initiatives are also evolving. Companies like Justworks emphasize that effective paternity leave policies not only promote equality but also enhance employee well-being and retention.

For Mexico and Latin America, expanding paternity leave represents more than an adjustment to labor policy; it signals a shift toward recognizing caregiving as a shared social and economic responsibility. “When fathers participate equally in care, everyone benefits: families, employers, and society at large,” says Pastor.