Co-responsability and active fatherhood. Advances in employment equality in the Iberian Penainsula

Abstract

This article analyzes the development of legislation on co-responsibility and active fatherhood in the Iberian Peninsula, based on the framework established by European Union directives on work-life balance. It examines the transposition of these directives into the legal systems of Spain and Portugal, paying particular attention to measures aimed at the balanced distribution of caregiving responsibilities and the involvement of both parents. The comparative study of both legal systems reveals a convergent trend towards models based on the individualization of work-life balance rights. The cases analyzed demonstrate that effective work-life balance is not achieved by extending leave exclusively linked to maternity, but rather through individual, non-transferable, and adequately remunerated leave.