Maternity leave

Maternity leave secures a period before and after childbirth during which a female employee may not be required to work. The pre-birth portion is extended for multiple pregnancies, and with medical approval part of it may be transferred to after the birth.

During the leave the employer does not pay wages; instead, insured employees meeting the premium conditions receive a temporary incapacity allowance from the social security institution. After the leave, unpaid leave may be taken upon request up to the statutory limit, and daily nursing breaks are granted until the child reaches the prescribed age.

Pregnancy and childbirth do not constitute valid grounds for dismissal; where employment is terminated in this period, the employer must prove a valid reason unrelated to the pregnancy. The effect of leave periods on seniority and the benefit conditions are among the most frequently asked issues in practice.