Pregnancy-related administrative matters

Certain unhealthy working conditions are banned for pregnant or breastfeeding employees.

Legally prohibited work and working conditions:

• exposure to noise
• exposure to high temperatures
• exposure to chemicals
• mechanical vibration
• danger of infection
• carrying heavy loads during the last three months of pregnancy

The company physician determines if a certain job is dangerous. If that is the case, the employer must provide the employee with another job in the company. If other work within the company is impossible, employees are entitled to incapacity-to-work benefits at the expense of the health insurance fund (prophylactic leave). For this, the health insurance fund needs proof of incapacity to work from the company physician and a statement from the employer indicating that it is impossible to give the employee alternative work within the company.

The law protects the employee from dismissal from the moment that the employer is aware of the pregnancy until a month after postnatal leave ends. If the employer dismisses the employee in this period without valid grounds, it must pay compensation: a lump sum equal to six months’ gross salary.

It is compulsory to inform the employer about a pregnancy no later than eight weeks before the due date.

A birth is an unforgettable experience. But there is also a financial side to it as well. Not only are there costs related to a birth, there are also financial advantages. Read more on our Child & Family website (click on the button below).

Prenatal leave

You decide yourself when to begin your maternity leave. Of the six weeks of prenatal leave, you must take at least one week before the due date. You are allowed to convert the remainder into postnatal leave.

Postnatal leave

Postnatal leave always starts from the date of childbirth and must total nine weeks. It can be extended with the transferable part of prenatal leave. So, postnatal leave is up to 14 weeks (nine weeks postnatal rest and five weeks of converted prenatal rest).

Starting your maternity leave

Submit a doctor’s note or an incapacity-to-work certificate to the advisory physician of your health insurance. This should specify from when all activities were stopped and when the due date is. You will receive an information sheet and a proof of resuming work form. You will need to complete the information sheet as soon as possible and return it to your health insurance. Your employer will be asked about salary information directly by the health insurance. If required, the unemployment office will supply data directly too.

After your baby’s birth

Submit an extract of the birth certificate or a medical certificate confirming the birth.

At the end of postnatal leave

Return the completed proof of resuming work form no later than eight days after your postnatal leave has ended.