Maternity leave is an important aspect of social policy in every country, providing support to parents during the period of caring for newborns. Let’s take a closer look at the features of maternity leave in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Cyprus, Romania, and Poland, including conditions, duration, payments, and additional rights for parents.
- Italy
– Duration of maternity leave:
– For mothers: 5 months (20 weeks), which can be split into 2 months before birth and 3 months after. In some cases, such as high health risks, a woman may start her leave earlier.
– For fathers: 10 days of paid leave, which can be taken within the first 5 months after the child’s birth.
– Payments:
– Women receive 80% of their salary, paid through social insurance, throughout the maternity leave.
– If a woman does not have a steady income, she may receive a minimum allowance based on her situation.
– There are additional allowances for low-income families, which may include extra payments for children.
– Additional rights:
– In Italy, there is an option to take additional unpaid leave for child care, which can last up to 6 months.
– Employers cannot dismiss a woman within 3 years after the birth of a child.
- Germany
– Duration of maternity leave:
– Maternity leave can last up to 14 months if both parents participate in child care. The mother can take 8 weeks before birth and 12 weeks after.
– The father can take up to 2 months, which can be added to the total period.
– There is an option to take child care leave for up to 3 years with the right to part-time work.
– Payments:
– Parents receive between 65% to 67% of their salary during this time, with a maximum amount of up to €1,800 per month.
– There is an option called ElterngeldPlus, which allows parents to stretch payments over a longer period but with smaller monthly amounts.
– Additional benefits are provided for families with multiple children and low-income families.
– Additional rights:
– Employers are required to provide parents with flexible working hours after returning from maternity leave.
– Dismissal during maternity leave is prohibited.
- Switzerland
– Duration of maternity leave:
– Maternity leave for mothers is 14 weeks (98 days), of which 8 weeks are mandatory after birth.
– Fathers can take up to 2 weeks of paid leave, which can also be taken at any time within the first 6 months after birth.
– Payments:
– Women receive 80% of their salary during maternity leave, but not more than 196 Swiss francs per day.
– Benefits are paid through the social insurance system, and women must be insured to receive payments.
– Additional rights:
– Employers cannot dismiss a woman during maternity leave.
– There is an option to take unpaid child care leave for up to 3 years.
- Cyprus
– Duration of maternity leave:
– Maternity leave for mothers is 18 weeks, of which 10 weeks must be after birth.
– Fathers can take 2 weeks of paid leave, which can be used within the first 8 weeks after the child’s birth.
– Payments:
– Women receive an allowance of 75% of their average salary for the last 8 weeks, but not more than €1,500 per month.
– Benefits are paid through the state social service, and registration is required in advance to receive them.
– Additional rights:
– There is an option to take unpaid child care leave for up to 3 years.
– Dismissal during maternity leave is prohibited.
- Romania
– Duration of maternity leave:
– Maternity leave for mothers is 126 days (18 weeks), of which 63 days must be before birth.
– Fathers can take 5 days of paid leave within the first 8 weeks after the child’s birth.
– Payments:
– Women receive 85% of their salary during maternity leave, paid through the social insurance system. The maximum allowance depends on previous income but cannot exceed a set limit.
– There are additional benefits for families with multiple children and low-income families, which may include extra payments for children.
– Additional rights:
– Employers cannot dismiss a woman within 6 months after the end of maternity leave.
– There is also the possibility to take unpaid child care leave for up to 2 years, during which the employee retains their job position.
- Poland
– Duration of maternity leave:
– Maternity leave for mothers lasts 20 weeks, of which 6 weeks can be taken before birth and 14 weeks after.
– Fathers can take 2 weeks of paid leave, which can be used within the first year after the child’s birth.
– Payments:
– Women receive 100% of their salary during the entire maternity leave, paid through the social insurance system.
– If a woman works part-time, the allowance is calculated based on her earnings.
– Additional rights:
– Employers are required to provide flexible working hours for parents after returning from maternity leave.
– Dismissal during maternity leave is prohibited, and employees have the right to return to their position.
- General Trends
– In all the mentioned countries, there is a trend towards supporting parents in caring for children, with an emphasis on the ability to balance work and family responsibilities.
– Measures to protect parents’ rights, such as prohibiting dismissal during maternity leave and the possibility of receiving additional benefits, help create more favorable conditions for raising children.
– Each country has its unique features that reflect cultural and social norms, as well as economic conditions affecting family support.
Thus, maternity leave is an important tool of social policy that contributes to the well-being of parents and children. Different countries offer various conditions, payments, and rights, allowing parents to choose the option that best suits their situation and needs.
