The four parties negotiating to form a new coalition government have removed plans to extend paternity leave for new fathers from the parliamentary agenda.

Last week a majority of MPs voted in favour of processing legislation to give new fathers five days paid paternity leave, even though the outgoing government branded it ‘controversial’.

Traditionally, work on politically sensitive issues is halted while a new cabinet is put together following an election.

However, caretaker social affairs minister Lodewijk Asscher was keen to press ahead with the plan – which is slated to come into effect in 2019. For that to happen, decisions have to be taken now, Asscher said ahead of last week’s vote.

It will now be up to the next government to decide whether or not to extend the amount of time new dads can take off work. Dutch fathers currently only get two days paid paternity leave, one of the lowest amounts in the EU.