In 2000 the Icelandic parliament adopted unanimously a new and radical law on parental leave. The leave was extended from six months to nine; divided between the parents so that fathers were allotted three months, mothers three and the remaining three divided between the two. One reason given for this division was to try to ensure that children received care from both parents. From the results of a questionnaire answered by parents who had their first child in 1997, 2003 or 2009 it was estimated whether the intention of the law was put into practice. The results indicate that the division of care between parents, from birth until three years, has changed in the intended direction and that this is mainly due to the law. The results also showed that this is least common among parents that do not live together. However, even amongst these parents the division of care is more equal among those who had their first child in 2009 than those who had their first in 1997. Finally, the results show that there is a direct correlation between the length of leave taken by the father and his involvement in care afterwards. Overall, these results indicate that the law has had the intended effect of providing children with care from both parents.

While Iceland and Spain historically belong to two different welfare regimes, both countries have enacted fathers’ quotas to their systems of paid parental leave. From the year 2000, Iceland has provided fathers with a three-month-long quota, and Spain introduced a 13-day fathers’ quota in 2007. Using survey data, the article applies structural equation modelling to learn of the interconnection between parents’ leave use, their working hours and fathers’ participation in care of their children. Fathers’ leave use was found to be associated with their involvement in care in both countries, both directly and indirectly, through the reduction in working hours. Icelandic fathers were more engaged in childcare than fathers in Spain, which could be explained by the longer period of paid leave available for fathers in Iceland.

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In May 2000 the Icelandic parliament unanimously adopted a new law on parental leave. The law meant radical changes in the situation of parents. Both parents got the right to three months of non-transferable leave with 80 per cent of salary. For years to come no other country offered fathers this long leave with similar economic compensation. In addition to the individual rights, parents had three months that they could divide as they liked. The stated goals of the law were to ensure that children received care from both parents and to make it easier for men and women to combine paid work and family life. We discuss what led to this law and show why it can be called a success. We show the main players, what the situation was like in Iceland when the law was adopted, and discuss changes that have been made to the law. Repeated surveys among first-time parents as well as statistics from the Parental Leave Fund show huge changes. From day one the great majority of fathers have made use of their right and they have greatly increased their participation in care for their children. We can safely state that the goal of ensuring that children receive care from both parents has been achieved.

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