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Maternity leave: 52 weeks in the UK
Maternity leave in the UK is one of the most advantageous in Europe: 52 weeks ! During maternity leave, women are entitled either to statutory maternity benefit (Statutory Maternity Pay – SMP) paid by their employer or to Maternity Allowance – MA granted by the State. To benefit from the SMP, the future mom must have held her job for at least 26 weeks, up to the 15th week before the expected birth of the baby. Employees who are not eligible for SMP, who have worked (as an employee or self-employed) for at least 26 weeks out of the 66 weeks preceding their birth are entitled to and who earn at least 30 pounds (35 euros) per week during 13 of those 66 weeks.
SMP and MA are paid for 39 weeks. SMP is paid at 90% of average salary for the first six weeks. Then come 33 paid weeks up to the lesser of the following amounts: 90% of the average salary. Likewise, MA is paid at 90% of average weekly earnings for the full 39 weeks.
In Poland: 20 weeks maternity leave
Since the entry into force, on January 1, 2009, of a part of the law of December 6, 2008 which modifies in particular the part of the labor code relating to leave related to the birth of a child, women have the right to a 20 weeks maternity leave. In principle, maternity leave is postnatal leave: it is taken in full after childbirth, but it is possible to start it before. The indemnities received during the leave are equal to the average salary of the last twelve months.
Mothers have an obligation to be on leave during 14 weeks after birth and can transfer the part of the leave they do not take to the father.
In addition, since 2010, the 20-week maternity leave can be extended by a so-called “additional” leave. This additional leave, which is similar to paid parental leave, can be transferred to the father, but cannot be shared. It must begin immediately after maternity leave and may be split. It could also take the form of a reduction in working time. In this case, the working time should be reduced by at least half.
In Germany: Mutterschutz or “protection of the mother”
Future mothers benefit from a six weeks prenatal leave and eight weeks postnatal leave. During prenatal leave, however, they may continue to work if they so wish, while having the right to reconsider this decision at any time. On the other hand, during postnatal leave, the prohibition to work is absolute. The law does not provide for the deferral of prenatal leave to postnatal leave.
During maternity leave, women affiliated to a public health insurance fund and holding an employment contract at the start of prenatal leave receive a daily allowance, the amount of which is limited to 13 euros. If the average net daily wage is greater than 13 euros, the employer is required to pay a supplement in order to guarantee the maintenance of the salary of the person concerned. The reference salary is calculated on the basis of the net salary for the three months preceding the maternity leave.
In Bulgaria: the longest maternity leave
A record! Bulgaria grants mothers a maternity leave of 410 calendar days for each child, 45 of which must be taken before the expected date of birth of the child. During this period of leave, the employee receives 90% of her average daily salary, provided she has worked for at least 12 months before the arrival of her child.
In Spain: 100% of salary during maternity leave
Moms-to-be have the right to a maternity leave of a total duration of sixteen uninterrupted weeks. They can organize their absence as they wish, but have the obligation to be on leave during the six weeks following the birth. During maternity leave, women receive allowances equal to 100% of the reference salary, which is the salary of the previous month. They also have the possibility of transferring part of their leave to the father, as long as they respect the obligatory six weeks of postnatal leave and that they do not split their own leave.