The 2026 Budget Law aims to strengthen measures to support families. Among the most significant changes is the extension of parental leave, which can be used until the child's 14th birthday, compared to the current 12.
How parental leave will work
The leave, intended for both working parents, will last a total of 10 months (11 if the father takes at least three of them) and will be paid at 30% of the average daily wage, with the first three months covered at 80% if taken within the child's sixth birthday.
Objective: to support the birth rate in Italy
The measure is part of a broader package to support birth rates and work-life balance, which also includes incentives for hiring mothers with multiple children and an extension of the maternity bonus.
The government's goal is to offer parents greater flexibility, recognizing that care needs don't end in their children's early years. It remains to be seen whether the current level of benefits will be sufficient to incentivize their use.
The extension, if confirmed in the final budget text, will come into force in 2026.
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