Maternity leave

Maternity leave is due to any woman, regardless of whether she is an employee or self-employed, provided that she has been a member of a health insurance fund as the principal policyholder for at least 6 months out of the 12 months preceding the start of the maternity leave.

During maternity leave, the woman is entitled to a financial benefit to replace her ordinary salary.

Prior to the birth

Maternity leave begins 8 weeks before the expected date of delivery. The pregnant woman must submit a medical certificate to her health insurance provider, stating the expected date of delivery. That certificate cannot be issued prior to 10 weeks before the expected date of delivery.

Calculating the start date for maternity leave

To calculate the start date of your prenatal maternity leave, simply count 56 calendar days (without counting the day of the birth) back from your expected date of delivery.

The medical certificate can only be issued a maximum of 70 calendar days (without counting the day of the birth) prior to the expected delivery date.

If the baby is born before the expected date, any remaining days of prenatal leave are added to the postnatal leave entitlement.

If the baby is born after the expected date, then the prenatal maternity leave is simply extended. This will not reduce the woman's entitlement to postnatal leave.

After birth

Postnatal maternity leave is 12 weeks, starting from the actual date of delivery rather than the expected date of delivery.

The postnatal leave entitlement is 12 weeks, even in the event of:

• premature birth, before the end of the 37th week of pregnancy,
• multiple births (twins, triplets etc.),
• breastfeeding.

Calculating the end date of maternity leave

To calculate the last date of the maternity leave, the start date is the actual date of delivery.

If the baby is born before the expected date, the expected date of delivery must be taken as the start date for postnatal maternity leave.

The date of the last day of postnatal leave (12 weeks) is 84 calendar days after the birth (including the day of the birth itself) or the expected delivery date if the baby is born before the expected date (including the day of the birth).