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At a glance
- The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy has proposed to extended maternity leave for parents who have premature babies or infants that require hospitalisation.
- The length of the additional maternity leave will depend on the length of the child's hospitalisation, the week of pregnancy in which the child is born and the child's birth weight.
- This additional leave is optional, but must follow regular maternity leave.
- It is scheduled for the legislation to be adopted in the third quarter of 2024.
The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy has proposed to extended maternity leave for parents who have premature babies or infants that require hospitalisation. The aim of this extension is to provide parents with compensation in circumstances where they have time spent with their child in the hospital.
Under the proposed legislation, the length of the additional maternity leave will be up to eight weeks or 15 weeks respectively, depending on the length of the child's hospitalisation, the week of pregnancy in which the child is born and the child's birth weight.
This additional leave is optional, and parents can decide whether or not to take advantage of it. If they choose to take the extended leave, it must follow immediately after regular maternity leave.
Employers should be aware that the bill is scheduled for adoption by the Council of Ministers in the third quarter of 2024.