Swedish MEP takes her baby to work in European Parliament chamber

Jytte Guteland has called for workplaces to be more 'child friendly'

Members of the European Parliament take part in a voting session on November 27, 2014, in the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France (FREDERICK FLORIN/AFP/Getty Images)

A Swedish MEP who took her baby to a vote at the European Parliament has called for workplaces to be more “child friendly”.

A picture of Social Democrat politician Jytte Guteland with her young son on her knees went viral after being shared hundreds of times on Twitter.

The MEP said she wanted to normalise bringing children to work so that parents could do so when necessary.

“It's common to have kids at work, but quite uncommon for them to come along and vote. But there is no parental leave for us MEPs,” Ms Guteland told The Local.

"I want parents to be able to have parental leave regardless of their job or assignment. I think we should also be child-friendly so that a baby can come along when it’s possible.”

MEPs are not currently entitled to parental leave, and while they are able to take six months maternity or paternity leave, they cannot be replaced by another politician and are obliged to vote in person.

Social media users were quick to praise Ms Guteland, calling her “impressive” and a good “multi-tasker.”

It is not the first time Ms Guteland has brought her baby to work. Earlier in the month, Labour MEP Julie Ward shared a photo of her addressing the Parliament while carrying her son.

Sweden is one of the most generous countries in the world for parental leave, with parents able to take 480 days of paid parental leave when a child is born or adopted.