Maternity and parental leave

Expecting a child is an incredible time for future parents, whether in Luxembourg or elsewhere. Amid the intense emotions and many questions parents face, they must prepare for the arrival of their future baby and complete numerous administrative procedures.

Maternity and parenthood are even more significant experiences when living abroad. It’s important to feel supported. Here’s more information about maternity and parental leave in Luxembourg and the steps you need to take.

Steps to Take Before the Birth of a Child in Luxembourg

The birth of a baby turns the expectant mother’s life and the family’s balance upside down. To best prepare for the arrival of a new family member, here are the steps you should take before the birth, particularly regarding your employer if you live and work in Luxembourg.

Informing Your Employer of the Pregnancy

Pregnant women are entitled to special protection in Luxembourg once their employer is informed of their pregnancy. New mothers receive support in the workplace until they finish breastfeeding their child.

To benefit from this special protection, the expectant mother must inform her employer of her pregnancy. This notification must be made at least 12 weeks before the due date

Informing your current employer of your pregnancy

The expectant mother must provide her employer with a medical certificate confirming her pregnancy and statingthe expected due date. This medical certificate, obtained from a doctor, may be sent by certified mail or delivered in person to the employer against a signed receipt with the date of receipt. The employer will forward this medical certificate to the relevant health insurance fund for information.

It is important to fully understand the guidelines regarding sick leave and leave for employees in Luxembourg. For a complete overview of rights and obligations, feel free to explore the conditions for taking a sick day without a medical certificate in Luxembourg.

Disclosing a Pregnancy While Job Hunting in Luxembourg

During the hiring process, a pregnant woman is not required to disclose her condition. In the case of a permanent contract with a probationary period, the probationary period is suspended for the duration of the pregnancy until the start of maternity leave. The probationary period will resume 12 weeks after childbirth.

You will find more information below regarding parental leave.

Medical checkups during pregnancy in Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, a number of medical appointments are scheduled for pregnant women to ensure proper monitoring of the pregnancy.

Prenatal medical visits may be taken during working hours without loss of pay:

• Dental exam before the end of the 5th month of pregnancy
• First medical examination before the end of the third month of pregnancy
• Second medical examination before the end of the fourth month
• Third medical examination before the end of the 6th month
• Fourth medical examination at the beginning of the eighth month
• 5th at the beginning of the 9th month.

If necessary, additional visits may be prescribed by the doctor overseeing the pregnancy.

Theoretical and practical classes for pregnant women in Luxembourg

Hospitals and maternity wards offer theoretical information sessions and practical exercises to prepare for childbirth or to support pregnant women in Luxembourg.

Haptonomy for childbirth preparation in Luxembourg

Haptonomy, from the Greek hapsis / haptein (touch , connection) and nomos (rule ), is the science of emotional expression and human relationships. It is thus a childbirth preparation method highly valued by expectant parents.

These sessions are designed for both parents, starting from the 20th week of pregnancy. It helps establish a reassuring connection between the child and the expectant parents.

Hypnosis for Pregnant Women

Hypnosis sessions can be offered to pregnant women. They provide support to help quit smoking, reduce the stress of childbirth, improve quality of life by alleviating pregnancy discomforts, or even help reposition the baby.

Exercise for Pregnant Women

Being pregnant doesn’t mean you have to stop all physical activity. Pregnant women can take prenatal yoga, exercise, or water aerobics classes. Check with local fitness centers.

Protection for pregnant or breastfeeding women in Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, pregnant women are entitled to protection in the workplace.

If necessary, during her pregnancy, a woman may have her work hours or job duties temporarily adjusted, in consultation with occupational health services.

These schedule adjustments will be made without any loss of pay. If a woman is excused from work for medical reasons, the Health Insurance Fund will pay a financial allowance to the pregnant or breastfeeding woman to compensate for the loss of income resulting from her absence from work.

Furthermore, a pregnant or breastfeeding woman cannot be terminated with notice. This applies from the moment the employer becomes aware of the pregnancy until 12 weeks after childbirth. Note that termination for serious misconduct may still apply.

Postpartum Medical Follow-up and Examinations

Postnatal home visits for new mothers

After childbirth, independent midwives remain available to support new mothers.

If the new mother leaves the maternity ward no later than four days after giving birth, a private midwife may visit her at home until the child is ten days old, depending on the mother’s needs and availability. These visits are covered by health insurance.

If the new mother returns home after spending more than four days in the maternity ward^{and after the 10th} day following the birth, only one consultation with a midwife is reimbursed.

In case of a problem, a midwife can always assist the new mother. However, a doctor’s prescription is required for this visit to be covered.

Some private midwives also offer private consultations for breastfeeding support, baby massages, and more.

Note that the day of the child’s birth counts as “day zero.”

The new mother’s visit to the gynecologist

The new mother should schedule a visit to the gynecologist six to eight weeks after giving birth. The purpose of this visit is to check on the new mother’s health.

The gynecologist may also prescribe, if necessary, perineal rehabilitation sessions with a physical therapist for the new mother.

Maternity Leave and Benefits in Luxembourg

To be eligible for maternity leave, an employee must have contributed to Social Security for at least 6 months during the previous 12 months.

In Luxembourg, maternity leave is divided as follows:

• Prenatal leave: 8 weeks before the expected due date
• Postnatal leave: 12 weeks after the date of delivery. In the event of a premature birth, any leave not taken before the birth is added to the postnatal leave, up to a maximum of 20 weeks. In the event of a birth after the expected date, the duration of postnatal leave cannot be reduced.

Maternity leave does not affect the employee’s regular annual leave entitlement. These days will be carried over to the end of the maternity leave period.
Maternity leave counts toward the employee’s seniority.
Pay for maternity leave is covered by the National Health Fund (CNS) up to the gross salary of the preceding months, subject to a cap of five times the minimum wage.

A birth certificate must be sent to the CNS as soon as possible after the birth.

How do you register the birth of a newborn in Luxembourg?

A new mother’s return to work and breastfeeding at work

A breastfeeding woman is entitled to two 45-minute breastfeeding breaks per workday once she returns to work after maternity leave.

For more information on maternity or paternity leave in Luxembourg, visit the National Health Fund (CNS) website .

At the end of her maternity leave, and without any notice, a female employee may terminate her employment contract to care for her child.

She is then entitled to priority for re-employment for one year once the company opens a hiring process for a position for which the applicant possesses the necessary qualifications.

Mother’s Day is traditionally celebrated on the second Sunday in June in Luxembourg. It does not result in any days off.

Parental Leave in Luxembourg

Who is eligible for parental leave?

After the birth or adoption of a child, both parents may take parental leave for the same child under the following conditions:

• they have been enrolled in the Luxembourg social security system for 12 consecutive months without any interruption of more than 7 days prior to the start of parental leave
• the employment contract(s) must total a minimum of 10 hours of work per week
• they must be under an employment contract for the entire duration of the parental leave.

Parental leave is accompanied by an allowance paid by the Caisse pour l’Avenir des Enfants intended to replace the suspended earned income.

Duration of parental leave in Luxembourg

In Luxembourg, each parent may apply for parental leave, to be taken only once for each child:

• either the first parental leave to be taken following maternity or adoption leave
• or the second parental leave, to be taken before the child turns 6 (12 in the case of an adopted child).

The applicant may take flexible parental leave. For example, a full-time employee working 40 hours per week may choose to take parental leave of:

• Full-time leave of 4 or 6 months
• Part-time leave of 8 or 12 months
• Split leave consisting of 4-month periods over a maximum of 20 months or 1 day per week for up to 20 months

Where should you go to request parental leave?

The employee must submit the parental leave request to their employer no later than 2 months before the start of maternity leave.

Self-employed individuals should contact the CAE (Caisse pour l’Avenir des Enfants) directly within the same timeframe.

For more information or for specific cases, visit cae.public.lu.

Learn more about birth grants and family allowances.

For any other questions about employment in Luxembourg.

Center for Pregnant Women and New Parents: Initiativ Liewensufank

Initiativ Liewensufank is a counseling center for expectant and new parents. They can ask any questions about pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and parenting.

This institute was created to improve family conditions surrounding childbirth through information and advice provided by professionals.
Free information and consultation (by phone or email) regarding all questions related to pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, life with babies, etc.

More information at www.liewensufank.lu

Feeding your child well is essential to giving them the best chance of staying healthy. Slow Food Grand-Duché provides the keys to a healthy, good, clean, and fair diet.

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What is family life like in Luxembourg? More information here.