Mødrekvote

Mødrekvote, or mother’s quota, is a defined portion of the Norwegian parental leave system reserved for the birth mother. It is part of foreldrepermisjon (parental leave) and foreldrepenger (parental benefits), administered through NAV, the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, under the national insurance scheme (folketrygdloven). The mother’s quota is a fixed number of weeks that the mother is expected to use, separate from any weeks that can be shared between parents. The purpose of the quota is to ensure the mother has time for early bonding with the child and to promote gender equality in caregiving and the labor market.

In addition to the mødrekvote, there is a corresponding fedrekvote reserved for the father, with the remaining weeks available as flexible, shared weeks within the total entitlement. The quotas are generally non-transferable; if the mother does not use her quota, it is not typically transferable to the father or other caregivers. The exact rules, duration, and compensation for the quotas can change through reforms and are determined by current legislation and regulations.

The mødrekvote has been part of efforts to encourage paternal involvement in early child-rearing while maintaining support for mothers in the workforce. Debates around the quotas cover topics such as flexibility, family arrangements, and the balance between promoting equality and avoiding rigidity for families with diverse needs.

See also: foreldrepermisjon, foreldrepenger, NAV, parental leave.