Statistics and indicators on women and men
 
Table 5g. Maternity leave benefits
Last Update: December 2008
Country or area
Period
Note
%
Note
Afghanistan 90 days
100
Employer
Albania 365 calendar days
80, 50
(a)
 Social insurance system
Algeria 14 weeks
100
Social security
Andora 16 weeks
100
Social insurance system
Angola 3 months
100
Social security (if necessary, the employer adds up to the full wage)
Antigua and Barbuda 13 weeks
60
Social insurance system and supplemented by Employer
Argentina 90 days
100
Family allowance funds (financed through state and employer contributions)
Armenia 140 days
100
Social insurance
Australia 52 weeks
…
(b)
 Universal and social assistance systems
Austria 16 weeks
100
Statutory health insurance, family burden equalization fund, or employer
Azerbaijan 126 calendar days
100
Social insurance
Bahamas 13 weeks
100
The National Insurance Board (2/3) and the employer (1/3)
Bahrain 45 days
100
Employer
Bangladesh 12 weeks
100
Employer
Barbados 12 weeks
100
National insurance system
Belarus 126 days
100
State social insurance
Belgium 15 weeks
82, 75
(c)
 Social security
Belize 12 weeks
80
Social security or employer (for women who are not entitled to receive benefits from social security)
Benin 14 weeks
100
50% social security, 50% employer
Bermuda 12 weeks
100
(d)
 Employer
Bolivia 60 days
(e)
95
(f)
 Social insurance
Bosnia & Herzegovina 1 year
100
…
Botswana 12 weeks
25
Employer
Brazil 120 days
100
Social insurance
British Virgin Islands 13 weeks
67
Social insurance
Bulgaria 135 days
90
Public social insurance (the General Sickness and Maternity Fund)
Burkina Faso 14 weeks
100
Social security and employer
Burundi 12 weeks
50
Employer
Cambodia 90 days
50
Employer
Cameroon 14 weeks
100
The National Social Insurance Fund
Canada 17-18 weeks
(g)
55
(h)
 Federal and State Employment Insurance
Cape Verde 45 days
90
Social insurance
Central African Republic 14 weeks
50
Social security
Chad 14 weeks
50
Social insurance
Channel Islands, Guernsey 18 weeks
…
(i)
 Social insurance and social assistance
Channel Islands, Jersey 18 weeks
…
(i)
 Social insurance
Chile 18 weeks
100
Social security
China 90 days
100
Employer
China, Hong kong SAR 10 weeks
80
Employer
Colombia 12 weeks
100
Social security
Comoros 14 weeks
100
Employer
Congo 15 weeks
100
50% social security, 50% employer
Costa Rica 4 months
100
50% social security, 50% employer
Cote d'Ivoire 14 weeks
100
The National Social Insurance Fund
Croatia 1+ year
(j)
100
(k)
 Health Insurance Fund (until the child reaches the age of 6 months), and the rest is paid from the State Budget
Cuba 18 weeks
100
Social security
Cyprus 16 weeks
75
Social security
Czech Republic 28 weeks
69
Social security
Democratic Republic of the Congo 14 weeks
67
Employer
Denmark 52 weeks
100
(h)
 Municipality and employer
Djibouti 14 weeks
50, 100
(l)
 Employer
Dominica 12 weeks
60
Social security and employer
Dominican Republic 12 weeks
100
50% Social security, 50% Employer
Ecuador 8 weeks
100
75% Social security, 25% Employer
Egypt 90 days
100
Social security and employer
El Salvador 12 weeks
75
Social security for insured workers, otherwise Employer must pay
Equatorial Guinea 12 weeks
75
Social security
Eritrea 60 days
…
(m)
 Employer
Estonia 140 calendar days
100
Health Insurance Fund
Ethiopia 90 days
100
Employer for upto 45 days
Fiji 84 days
…
(i)
 Employer
Finland 105 working days
70
Social insurance system
France 16 weeks
100
(h)
 Social security
Gabon 14 weeks
50
Social insurance system
Gambia 12 weeks
100
Employer
Germany 14 weeks
100
Statutory health insurance scheme, state, employer
Ghana 12 weeks
…
(n)
 …
Greece 119 days
100
Social security/Employer
Grenada 3 months
100, 60
(o)
 60% for 12 weeks by Social security, 40% for 2 months by Employer
Guatemala 84 days
100
2/3 Social security, 1/3 Employer
Guinea 14 weeks
100
50% Social security, 50% Employer
Guinea-Bissau 60 days
100
Employer (if a woman affiliated to a social security scheme receives a subsidy, the employer pays the difference between the subsidy and the salary)
Guyana 13 weeks
70
Social security
Haiti 12 weeks
100
(p)
 Employer
Honduras 10 weeks
100
2/3 Social security, 1/3 Employer
Hungary 24 weeks
70
Social insurance system
Iceland 3 months
80
Social security
India 12 weeks
100
Social security or employer (for non-covered women)
Indonesia 3 months
100
Employer
Iran (Islamic Republic of) 90 days
67
Social security
Iraq 62 days
100
Social security
Ireland 18 weeks
70
Social Insurance Fund
Isle of Man 26 weeks
90
(h)
 Social insurance and social assistance system
Israel 12 weeks
100
(h)
 Social security
Italy 5 months
80
Social security
Jamaica 12 weeks
100
(q)
 Employer
Japan 14 weeks
60
Health insurance scheme (if managed by employer), or Social Insurance Agency (if managed by the Government)
Jordan 10 weeks
100
Employer
Kazakhstan 126 calendar days
100
Employer
Kenya 2 months
100
Employer
Kiribati 12 weeks
25
Employer
Kuwait 70 days
100
Employer
Kyrgyzstan 126 calendar days
100
Social security
Lao People's Democratic Rep. 90 days
100
(r)
 Social security or employer
Latvia 112 calendar days
100
State Social Insurance
Lebanon 7 weeks
100
Employer
Lesotho 12 weeks
…
(s)
 Employer
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 50 days
50, 100
(t)
 Employer (social security for self-employed women)
Liechtenstein 20 weeks
80
Social insurance
Lithuania 126 calendar days
100
State Social Insurance Fund
Luxembourg 16 weeks
100
Social insurance
Madagascar 14 weeks
100
50% Social insurance, 50% Employer
Malawi 8 weeks
(u)
100
Employer
Malaysia 60 days
100
Employer
Mali 14 weeks
100
Social security
Malta 14 weeks
100
(v)
 Employer
Mauritania 14 weeks
100
Social Security Fund
Mauritius 12 weeks
100
Employer
Mexico 12 weeks
100
Social security
Monaco 16 weeks
90
(h)
 Social insurance
Mongolia 120 days
70
Social Insurance Fund
Morocco 14 weeks
100
Social security
Mozambique 60 days
100
Employer
Myanmar 12 weeks
67
Social insurance
Namibia 12 weeks
100
Social security
Nepal 52 days
100
Employer
Netherlands 16 weeks
100
(h)
 Unemployment fund
New Zealand 14 weeks
100
(h)
 State funds (Universal and social assistance system)
Nicaragua 12 weeks
60
Social security
Niger 14 weeks
50
Social security
Nigeria 12 weeks
50
Employer
Norway 42-52 weeks
(w)
80, 100
(x)
 Social Insurance Fund
Pakistan 12 weeks
100
Employer
Panama 14 weeks
100
Social Security Fund (but employer liable to cover difference between the maternity allowance paid by the Social Security Fund )
Papua New Guinea 6+ weeks
(y)
…
…
Paraguay 12 weeks
50
(z)
 Social security system
Peru 90 days
100
Social security
Philippines 60 days
(aa)
100
Employer (reimbursed by the social security system)
Poland 16 weeks
100
Social Insurance Fund
Portugal 120 days
100
Social insurance
Qatar 50 days
100
Employer
Republic of Korea 90 days
100
60 days Employer, 30 days Employment Insurance Fund
Republic of Moldova 126 calendar days
100
State Social Insurance Fund
Romania 126 days
85
Social Insurance Fund
Russian Federation 140 calendar days
100
Social Insurance Fund
Rwanda 12 weeks
67
Employer
Saint Kitts and Nevis 13 weeks
60
Social security
Saint Lucia 3 months
65
Social security
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 13 weeks
65
Social security
San Marino 5 months
100
Social security
Sao Tome and Principe 70 days
100
(bb)
 Social security (Employer must pay for women not covered by social security)
Saudi Arabia 10 weeks
50, 100
(cc)
 Employer
Senegal 14 weeks
100
Social security
Serbia 365 days
100
(dd)
 Social insurance
Seychelles 14 weeks
100
(ee)
 Employer
Singapore 16 weeks
100
(ff)
 Employer and Government
Slovakia 28 weeks
55
Social Insurance Fund
Slovenia 105 days
100
State
Solomon Islands 12 weeks
25
Employer
Somalia 14 weeks
50
Employer
South Africa 4 months
60
(gg)
 Unemployment Insurance Fund
Spain 16 weeks
100
Social security
Sri Lanka 12 weeks
86, 100
(hh)
 Employer
Sudan 8 weeks
…
(n)
 Employer
Swaziland 12 weeks
…
…
Sweden 480 days
80
(h)(ii)(jj)
 Social insurance
Switzerland 14 weeks
80
(h)
 Social security
Syrian Arab Republic 50 days
70
Employer
Tajikistan 140 calendar days
…
…
TFYR of Macedonia 9 months
…
(m)
 …
Thailand 90 days
100, 50
(kk)
 Employer and Social insurance system
Togo 14 weeks
100
50% Employer, 50% Social security
Trinidad and Tobago 13 weeks
100, 50
(ll)
 Employer/Social security
Tunisia 1-2 months
67, 100
(mm)(nn)
 Social insurance
Turkey 16 weeks
67
(oo)
 Social security
Turkmenistan 112 days
100
Social insurance
Uganda 8 weeks
100
(pp)
 Employer
Ukraine 126 days
100
Social security
United Arab Emirates 3 months
100
Employer
United Kingdom 52 weeks
90
(qq)(rr)
 Employer (92% refunded by public funds)
United Republic of Tanzania 12 weeks
100
Social insurance
United States of America 12 weeks
…
(ss)
 …
Uruguay 12 weeks
100
(tt)
 Social security
Uzbekistan 126 calendar days
100
State social insurance scheme
Vanuatu 12 weeks
50
Employer
Venezuela 18 weeks
67
Social insurance
Viet Nam 4-6 months
(uu)
100
Social Insurance Fund
Yemen 60 days
100
Employer
Zambia 12 weeks
…
(n)
 Employer
Zimbabwe 90 days
100
Employer

Sources:

International Labour Office, Maternity protection database available from the ILO Conditions of Work and Employment Programme’s website, http://www.ilo.org/public/english/protection/condtrav/database/index.htm (accessed December 2008) supplemented by data compiled by the United States Social Security Administration (SSA) and published in: Social Security Programs Throughout the World: The Americas, 2005; Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Africa, 2005; Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Asia and the Pacific, 2004; and Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Europe, 2004, available from the SSA website, http://www.ssa.gov/policy/data_sub50.html (accessed December 2008).

 

Footnotes:

...
 Not available.
a
 80% prior to birth and for 150 days, and 50% for the rest of the leave period.
b
 A lump sum payment is paid for each child.
c
 82% for the first 30 days and 75% for the remaining period (up to a ceiling).
d
 No statutory benefits are provided. However, the 2000 Employment Act provides for 8 weeks paid and 4 weeks unpaid maternity leave to employees who have worked for the same employer for at least a year; 8 weeks unpaid maternity leave for employees with less than a year.
e
 90 days for domestic workers.
f
 Benefit paid for up to 45 days before and 45 days after the expected date of child birth.
g
 Duration depends on the Province.
h
 Up to a ceiling.
i
 Flat rate.
j
 45 days before delivery and 1 year after.
k
 100% until the child reaches the age of six months, then at a level determined by the Act on the Execution of the State Budget for the remaining period.
l
 100% for public servants.
m
 Paid amount not specified.
n
 No statutory benefits are provided.
o
 100% for 2 months and 60% for the last month.
p
 6 weeks coverage.
q
 8 weeks coverage.
r
 Coverage limited to employees in private-sector and state-owned enterprises with 10 or more employees, and pensioners. Coverage is only available in certain regions of the country.
s
 No legal obligation for paid maternity leave but some employment contracts have provision.
t
 100% for self-employed women.
u
 Every three years.
v
 13 weeks coverage.
w
 Two leave options: 42 weeks or 52 weeks parental leave plus 9 weeks reserved for the mother.
x
 100% for 44-week option; 80% for 54-week option.
y
 As necessary for hospitalization before confinement and 6 weeks after.
z
 9 weeks coverage.
aa
 78 days for caesarian delivery.
bb
 60 days coverage.
cc
 50% or 100% depending on the duration of employment.
dd
 100% of earnings are paid with 6 months of continuous coverage; 60% with more than 3 but less than 6 months; 30% with at least 3 months.
ee
 The employer is reimbursed 80% of maternity benefits paid up to a ceiling.
ff
 The first 8 weeks paid by employer, the last 8 weeks funded by the Government up to a ceiling. For the third and subsequent births, the full 16 weeks will be funded by the Government up to a ceiling.
gg
 Up to 60% depending on the level of income.
hh
 Six seventh (86%) of wages for workers paid at a time-rate or piece-rate.
ii
 480 calendar days paid parental leave: 80% for 390 days; flat rate for remaining 90 days.
jj
 480 days shared between both parents. 60 of these days are reserved for each parent while the rest are transferable to the other parent. In case of sole custody, all 480 days accrue to the custodial parent.
kk
 Employer for 45 days at rate of 100%; Social insurance for 90 days at a rate of 50%.
ll
 100% for 1 month, 50% for 2 months (employer) and a sum depending on the earnings (social security).
mm
 Social insurance benefits paid to private sector employees for 30 days at a rate of 2/3 of average daily wage. Civil servants are paid full salary during maternity leave.
nn
 Civil servants entitled to 2 months of maternity leave.
oo
 12 weeks coverage.
pp
 1 month coverage.
qq
 Statutory maternity leave is paid for a continuous period of up to 39 weeks. 90% for the first 6 weeks and a flat rate for the remaining weeks.
rr
 Consisting of 26 weeks of Ordinary Maternity Leave and 26 weeks of Additional Maternity Leave.
ss
 There is no national program. Cash benefits may be provided at the state level.
tt
 For private sector employees. Special system for civil servants.
uu
 Duration depends on the working conditions and nature of the work.

 

Technical notes:

Data on maternity leave benefits currently available to women in countries around the world were compiled by the International Labour Office and the United States Social Security Administration from a variety of legislative and non-legislative sources. The main legislative sources include national laws regarding maternity protection, labour, social security, equality and opportunity of treatment, occupational safety and health and sometimes conditions of work. These sources apply to the private sector. Separate legislations for the public sector have not been included, nor have collective agreements. In systems where there may be no single national standard, such as federal states, the more general provision applicable has been included. Non-legislative sources include replies to the Social Security Programs Throughout the World survey conducted by the International Social Security Association (ISSA) under the sponsorship of the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA); websites of Ministries of Employment, Labour, Health and Family of countries and of Social security offices, funds or boards; as well as other ILO databases and publications.

The data presented in this table refers to laws and regulations in force at the time of the compilation of the information (between 2004 and 2006).