22nd International Review of Leave Policies and Related Research 2026.

The International Network on Leave Policies and Research has been
producing an annual review of leave policies and related research since 2005 (for
earlier reviews, go to the network’s website www.leavenetwork.org). The review
covers Maternity, Paternity and Parental leaves; leave to care for sick children and
other employment-related measures to support working parents; and early childhood education and care policy.

The International Review is based on country notes from each participating
country, prepared by members of the network and edited by a team of network
members. Each country note follows a standard format: details of different types
of leave; the relationship between leave policy and early childhood education and
care policy; recent policy developments; information on take-up of leave.

The International Review also includes definitions of the main types of leave policies and cross-country comparisons. These comparative overviews cover: each main type of leave; the relationship between leave and ECEC entitlements; and policy changes and developments since the previous review. We also include a technical appendix.

The 2026 International Review covers 52 countries. These are: Argentina,
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Brazil, Canada,
Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Ireland, Italy,
Japan, Korea, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands,
New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia,
Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Türkiye, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay and Vietnam. This year, Costa
Rica appears in the review for the first time, enabling the review to cover all
member states of the OECD (as well as of the European Union).