The number of men on parental leave (who are entitled to take maternity benefits*) has increased in the Czech Republic. Data from the Czech Social Security Administration (CSSA) indicates this slightly rising trend. Although women still predominate, 926 Czech men received maternity benefits in the first quarter of 2015, including 179 new ones. In the first quarter of 2014, only 143 men filed to receive maternity benefits. The total number of Czech men receiving maternity benefits in the first quarter of 2014 was 719.
More men are also involved in staying at home with their sick children, and receiving attendance allowances. In the first quarter of 2014, this benefit was taken by 21,776 men. A year later there were already 31,417 men receiving the benefits, which was 9,641 more. The total number of cases where men stayed at home with their sick children and received attendance allowances numbered 31,582 cases in the first quarter of 2015.
Both the above mentioned benefits are paid from the state sickness insurance system. Maternity benefits are the second largest item being pay from the system followed by sickness benefits. Sickness benefits depleted a total of CZK 4 billion in the first quarter of 2015 (it was CZK 3.4 billion last year). Maternity benefits were paid to the amount of CZK 1.8 billion in the first quarter of 2015, which corresponds to approximately the same amount from Q1 2014.
Overview of selected statistical indicators of sickness insurance 2014-2015
(Source: Czech Social Security Administration)
| Indicator | Q1 2014 | Q1 2015 | |
| Maternity benefit | |||
| Number of cases of payment | 130,727 | 132,190 | |
| men | 719 | 926 | |
| women | 130,008 | 131,264 | |
| Number of new cases of payment | 17,859 | 18,334 | |
| men | 143 | 179 | |
| women | 17,716 | 18,155 | |
| Attendance allowance | |||
| Number of cases of payment | 97,620 | 140,461 | |
| men | 21,874 | 31,582 | |
| women | 75,746 | 108,879 | |
| Number of new cases of payment | 97,145 | 139,578 | |
| men | 21,776 | 31,417 | |
| women | 75,369 | 108,161 | |
| Number of paid days | 678,972 | 991,176 | |
* Paternity benefits do not exist in the Czech legal system. That is why men receive "maternity" benefits if they are on parental leave.
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