Spanish court: Fathers can share new parent leave with Mothers

MADRID, April 11 (UPI) -- A Spanish court ruled in favor of a father who argued men should be entitled to share leave during an infants' first weeks with the mothers.

Spanish news agency Europa Press said the Central Dispute Tribunal Court 11 ruled in favor of a public servant who works for the police, giving parents the ability to split the leave between them, The Local.es reported Thursday.

A judge upheld the decision, saying the current rules were "restrictive."

The judge said the need for leave was "not exclusive to mothers" and applied to "both parents."

The ruling cited Spain's Equality Law and the Public Service Statute, which the judge said helps people balance work and family life.

The judge ordered Spain's Public Administration to pay the cost of the appeal.

The case stemmed from the case of a female judge who asked for five weeks leave after the first of her infant and attempted to give the last three weeks to her husband, who works for the police. However, officials said the leave must be taken by one parent or the other, and cannot be split between the two.