Maternity and pregnancy

Luxembourg legislation provides for a specific protection scheme for pregnant or breastfeeding women. They are entitled to:

  • Protection against dismissal from the start of pregnancy;
  • Protection against specific risks related to their job (health and safety);
  • Time off work for prenatal examinations, paid as working time;
  • Protection against night work;
  • Maternity leave, before and after the birth;
  • Arrangements related to breastfeeding:
    • Right to two 45-minute breastfeeding breaks per day (at the beginning and end of the day);
    • Possibility of combining these two breaks into a single 90-minute break, depending on the organisation of work;
    • This time is counted as working time.

Maternity leave

All pregnant women in employment (whether employed, self-employed or apprentices) are entitled to maternity leave, consisting of:

  • 8 weeks of prenatal leave, before the expected date of delivery;
  • 12 weeks of postnatal leave, after the birth.

This leave is intended to protect the mother's health and allow her to devote herself to her child in the first weeks of life.

During this period, working women receive maternity pay from the CNS (and not from their employer, in the case of employees or apprentices).

Please note:

To be eligible for maternity leave, the insured person must have been affiliated to the health and maternity insurance scheme for at least 6 months in the 12 months preceding the expected start of the leave.

Parental leave

At the end of their maternity leave, mothers can apply for parental leave, which is managed by the Fund for Children's Future (CAE). The CAE is also responsible for paying:

  • family allowances;
  • birth grants, including:
    • the prenatal grant,
    • the birth grant,
    • the postnatal grant.

Paternity leave

Paternity leave is special leave of 10 days granted to employed and self-employed fathers, as well as any person recognised as a second parent, on the birth of a child or the arrival of a child under the age of 16 with a view to adoption.

The days of leave are in principle determined according to the employee's wishes, unless the needs of the company dictate otherwise. In the absence of agreement between the employee and their employer, the leave must be taken in a single period immediately after the event (the birth or adoption of the child).

Last update