GETTY The Swedish government is to crack down on benefits

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Swedish parents are entitled to 480 days of paid parental leave when their child is born or first adopted - a very high figure compared to international standards. For 390 of the days, parents are entitled to nearly 80 per cent of their normal pay, with the remanning 90 days being paid at a flat rate.

But under new rules, migrants will no longer be able to reap the benefits of the child-friendly system as a cap has been placed on the amount of benefits they can receive. Now, parents who arrive in Sweden between their child’s first and second birthday will only be able to claim the benefits for a maximum of 200 days.

GETTY The proposals would supposedly put migrant children on an even footing with Swedish children

GETTY Those who arrive after their child’s 2nd birthday will be restricted to just 100 days of pay offs

Those who arrive after their child’s second birthday will be restricted to just 100 days of pay offs. Social Affairs Minister Annika Strandhäll said the change would mean parents who arrive in Sweden would no longer receive an “over-compensation” when it comes to parental leave, and was an integral “piece of the puzzle” of integrating migrants. She added: “Both children and parents will now be on more equal terms with Swedish parents and children.”

Heartbreaking images depict refugee children Fri, February 24, 2017 Photo report on the growing refugee crisis in Europe of children, some of who are orphans struggling to survive Play slideshow AFP/Getty Images 1 of 23 A young boy cries at a makeshift camp for migrants and refugees at the Greek-Macedonian border near the village of Idomeni

Although the new rules will only cover parents who arrive in Sweden after July 1, 2017, there are talks the cap could be extended. This would mean those who arrived during and after the second half of 2015 could also be hit by the cuts. However, the rules only apply for parents who have not adopted a child. Lars Arrhenius, one of the researchers behind the proposal which was presented Friday, claimed the change would also be of benefit to the children arriving in Sweden with their parents.

GETTY The move is hoped to help migrants become better integrated into Swedish life

Both children and parents will now be on more equal terms with Swedish parents and children Sweden's Social Affairs Minister Annika Strandhäll

He said: “The children are given the opportunity to spend the same amount of time with their parents as other Swedish children. “They’re also given the opportunity to start pre-school earlier, which is positive for the child.” The proposal is thought to partly come off the back of the government’s plans to get more newly arrived migrant parents into work at a faster rate. Unemployment among Swedish citizens is at 4.2 per cent and is fast approaching three per cent - the point at which economists consider to be close to full employment.

GETTY Swedish migrant unemployment remains high, standing at an average of 21.6 per cent