Maternity leave

What is maternity leave? — Maternity leave is the period of time granted to a pregnant employee before and after the birth of her child. It allows the employee to recover from childbirth and take care of the newborn without losing her employment rights.

Is maternity leave paid? — Yes, maternity leave is paid. During this period, the National Health Fund (Caisse Nationale de Santé - CNS) provides a maternity allowance equivalent to the employee's salary, up to a ceiling of five times the minimum social wage.

How many days of leave are included in maternity leave? — Expectant mothers are entitled to 8 weeks of leave before childbirth and 12 weeks after childbirth, totaling 20 weeks of paid maternity leave.

What happens if the baby is born earlier or later than expected? — If the baby is born before the expected date, the unused days of prenatal leave are added to the postnatal leave. If the birth occurs after the expected date, the prenatal leave is extended accordingly, without reducing the postnatal leave duration.

Can maternity leave be extended? — Yes, maternity leave can be extended in cases of multiple births (twins, triplets, etc.) or if there are complications related to pregnancy or childbirth.

Does maternity leave affect annual leave rights? — No, maternity leave is considered a period of actual work. Employees continue to accrue their right to annual leave during maternity leave.

Are there any job protections during maternity leave? — Yes, during maternity leave, employees are protected against dismissal. Employers cannot terminate the employment contract from the moment the pregnancy is declared until 12 weeks after childbirth. ​