Family Policy in Iceland: An Overview

Föräldraledighet, omsorgspolitik och jämställdhet i Norden

“…Ifølge Morgan var det Kristendemokraterne i Norge, der samlede den konservative opposition mod offentlig børnepasning, mens Socialdemokratiet i Finland ikke opnåede stemmeflertal og derfor måtte danne en koalition med et centrum-højre bondeparti, "hvis valgkredse på landet er mindre interesserede i den offentlige børnepasning " (2009:321). I det islandske tilfaelde blev loven om dagpasningstilbud vedtaget af et af det 20 århundredes få venstreorienterede koalitionsregeringer (Eydal, 2005).…”

Difference and equality: Icelandic parents' division of parental leave within the context of a childcare gap

“…Since the 1990s, there has been a steady increase in public day care provision in Iceland, placing the country amongst those with the highest coverage rates for three-and four-year-olds (Eydal & Ólafsson, 2008). However, in the capital area 5 most children are 18-months-old before they get admitted, leaving a gap of about nine months between parental leave and available day care.…”

The triple bind of single-parent families

“…In the case of divorce, custody was given to one parent -almost without exception the mother -and since 1972, the Icelandic marital law has given the noncustodial parent the right to visitation (Eydal, 2005). In 1981, the Law in Respect of Children ensured all children had the right to have contact with, and receive care from, both parents.…”

“…The amount was a flat-rate benefit until 1978, when it was changed so that higher benefits were paid for children under the age of seven and for children of single parents (Eydal, 2005). Income testing was introduced gradually from 1984, and since 2011, parents with an income above a certain amount have not been entitled to any family benefits (Kristjánsson, 2011).…”