Guide: Maternity protection & parental leave

Deadlines & employment ban

The statutory maternity leave periods begin as standard 6 weeks ago the expected delivery date and ends 8 weeks after the actual delivery (12 weeks for multiple or premature births).

  • In the preceding 6 weeks, the expectant mother is only allowed to work if she expressly agrees to do so.
  • In the 8 weeks after that one applies absolute ban on employment.

The U2 levy (reimbursement for employers)

During maternity leave, the employee receives maternity benefit from the health insurance company. The employer pays one Maternity benefit subsidy (Difference between net pay and maternity benefit from the fund).

Good news for employers: You can get it via the U2 levy process (in which all employers take part). 100% of the subsidy paid including the employer's contributions to social insurance reimbursed by the health insurance company!

Register for parental leave

If the employee subsequently wants to take parental leave, she must inform the employer of this at the latest 7 weeks before the start communicate the parental leave in writing.