The parental leave benefit was set at 67% of the parent’s net average earnings during the 12 months preceding child birth, with a ceiling of EUR 1 800 per month and a floor of EUR 300. The first 12 months were paid and, if partners (usually the father) used at least two months of parental leave, it was topped up with another two months - 14 months in all. It was, in fact, possible to extend parental leave to up to 24+4 months (if each parent took at least four months), with a proportional reduction in the monthly payment rate. Unpaid employment-protected leave was available for a maximum of 36 months (Moss and Korintus, 2008).