What is maternity protection?
Maternity protection means: As an expectant or new mother, you are specially protected - in terms of health, financially and also in your job.
In concrete terms, this means
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You must Stop working 6 weeks before the birthif you don't want that.
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And 8 weeks after the birth (for premature or multiple births: 12 weeks) you are also not allowed to work - even if you want to.
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During this time you get Maternity benefit - usually from the health insurance company and also from the employer.
Does this also apply to international employees?
Yes - if you work in Germanythe same rules apply.
No matter whether you come from Spain, Turkey or Ghana:
If you have statutory health insurance here and an employment contract, you are almost always entitled to maternity leave.
Even if you are privately insured or have a different residence status, a claim may exist - but then it gets a bit more complicated. It's worth asking your health insurance provider or an advice center.
What is parental leave?
Parental leave is what comes after maternity leave. During this time, you can stay at home and look after your child. and still keep your job.
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You may take up to 3 years parental leave.
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Both parents can apply for parental leave.
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During parental leave, you will receive no salary,
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but parental allowance from the state (depending on previous income).
How much parental allowance is there?
The parental allowance is usually 65-67 % of your previous net income - at least € 300, maximum € 1,800 per month.
You can for 12 months even if shared with the partner up to 14 months.
If you continue to work part-time, there's this Parental allowance plus - with an adjusted amount over a longer period of time.
What do you need to consider?
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LanguageMany forms and information are only available in German - get support if you need help.
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DeadlinesParental allowance : You must no later than three months after the birth request.
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Residence permit: In many cases you will need a Residence permit with work permitto use parental allowance or parental leave. This is easier for EU citizens, but a little more formal for third-country nationals.
