Maternity and parental leave

Expecting a child is an incredible time in a woman’s life. In addition to the intense emotions and the many questions experienced by the parents, they must prepare for the birth of their future baby and undertake many administrative steps. We tell you more in this page.

Steps before the birth

The birth of a baby upsets the life of the mother-to-be and the balance of the family. To prepare for the arrival of a new family member, here are the steps to take before the birth, especially with regard to your employer.

Informing the employer of the pregnancy

Pregnant women benefit from a special protection status in Luxembourg as soon as their employer is informed of their pregnancy and until the end of their child’s breastfeeding period.

This information must be provided at least 12 weeks before the birth by a medical certificate attesting to the state of pregnancy and notifying the expected date of delivery. This medical certificate will be sent by registered mail or hand-delivered to the employer against signature and date of receipt. The employer will forward this medical certificate to the competent health insurance company for information.

During the recruitment process, a pregnant woman is not required to report her condition. In the case of a permanent contract with a trial period, the trial period is suspended for the duration of the pregnancy until the employee goes on maternity leave. The trial period will resume 12 weeks after the birth.

See below for details on parental leave.

Medical examinations during pregnancy

Prenatal medical examinations may be carried out on working time, without loss of pay:

• Dental examination before the end of the 5th month of pregnancy
• 1st medical examination before the end of the 3rd month of pregnancy
• 2nd medical examination before the end of the 4th month
• 3rd medical examination before the end of the 6th month
• 4th medical examination at the beginning of the 8th month
• 5th to early 9th month.

Theoretical and practical courses for pregnant women

Some hospitals and maternity wards offer theoretical information courses and practical exercises to prepare for childbirth or to accompany the pregnant woman, such as at the maternity ward of the CHL.

Haptonomy

Haptonomy, from the Greek hapsis / haptein (the touch, the link) and nomos (the rule), is the science of affectivity and human relationships. It is thus a method of preparation for childbirth very appreciated by the future parents.

These sessions are for both parents, from the twentieth week of pregnancy. It allows to establish a reassuring communication between the child and the future parents.

Hypnosis

From hypnosis sessions can be offered to pregnant women. They offer support to stop smoking, reduce the stress of childbirth, increase the comfort of life by reducing the aches and pains of pregnancy or initiate the change of position of the baby.

Sport

Being pregnant doesn’t mean you have to stop all physical activity. Pregnant women can thus follow prenatal yoga, gymnastics and aqua aerobics classes. Check with your local sports club.

Protection during pregnancy or breastfeeding

If necessary, during the period of pregnancy, the working time or the workstation will be temporarily adjusted by the employer in agreement with the occupational health department. This adjustment of hours must be made without loss of pay. In the event of an absence from work, a financial compensation will be paid to the pregnant or breast-feeding woman by the Sickness Fund.
A pregnant or nursing woman cannot be dismissed with notice from the moment the employer becomes aware of the pregnancy until 12 weeks after the birth. Note that dismissal for serious misconduct may apply.

Medical examinations after the birth

The postnatal home visit

After the birth, the liberal midwives remain at the disposal of the young mothers to support them.

If the mother leaves the maternity ward no later than four days after giving birth, a midwife can come to your home until the tenth day of the child, depending on the mother’s needs and availability. These visits are taken in load by health insurance companies.

After the 10th day – or if the mother goes home after four days in the maternity ward – only a consultation by a midwife is reimbursed.

In case of problems, a midwife can always intervene. A order medical is however necessary.

Some liberal midwives also offer private consultations for breastfeeding assistance, baby massage…

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

The visit to the gynecologist

A visit to the gynecologist should be scheduled six to eight weeks after delivery.

The objective of this consultation is to check the health status of the young mother. The gynecologist asks several questions, such as breastfeeding, the return from childbirth, pain… He then proceeds with a gynecological examination in order to check the tone of the perineum, the state of the breasts or the good healing in case of episiotomy or perineal tear.

The gynecologist can also prescribe to the young mother, if necessary, rehabilitation sessions of the perineum at a physiotherapist.

Have you given birth? What kind of childcare is available for your baby?

Maternity leave and benefits

In order to benefit from maternity leave, the employee must have contributed to the Social Security system for at least 6 months during the last 12 months.

Maternity leave is broken down as follows:

• Prenatal leave 8 weeks before the expected date of delivery
• Postnatal leave 12 weeks after the date of delivery. In case of premature birth, the 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 due date, the length of postnatal leave may not be reduced.

Maternity leave gives rise to the usual annual leave days. These will be carried over at the end of the maternity leave.
Maternity leave gives rise to the employee’s seniority being counted.
Maternity leave is paid for by the National Health Fund at the gross salary of the previous months, subject to a ceiling of 5 times the minimum salary.

A birth certificate should be sent to the NSC as soon as possible after delivery.

How to declare the birth of a newborn in Luxembourg?

Return to work and breastfeeding

The breastfeeding woman is entitled to a breastfeeding break of 2 x 45 minutes per working day, as soon as she returns to work after her maternity leave.

For more information or for all special cases, please consult the National Health Fund website.

At the end of her maternity leave, and without any notice, a woman employee can break her employment contract to take care of her child. She is then given priority for re-employment for one year if the company opens a hiring procedure for a position for which the applicant has the necessary qualifications.

Parental leave in Luxembourg

Who can apply for parental leave?

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

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

Parental leave is accompanied by an indemnity paid by the Fund for the Future of Children to replace the professional income that is suspended.

Length of parental leave

Each parent may request parental leave, to be taken only once for each child:

• or the first parental leave to be taken following maternity or foster care leave
• or the 2nd parental leave to be taken before the child’s 6th birthday (12 years in the case of an adopted child).

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

• A full-time leave of absence of 4 or 6 months
• A half-time leave of absence of 8 or 12 months
• Split leave at a rate of 4 months for up to 20 months or 1 day per week for up to 20 months

Where to go?

The request for parental leave must be sent by the employee to his/her employer at least 2 months before the beginning of the maternity leave.

The self-employed person will apply directly to the CAE (Caisse pour l’Avenir des Enfants) within the same period.

For more information or for all special cases, please visit cae.public.lu .

Learn more about childbirth benefits and family allowances.

For any other question about employment in Luxembourg.

Center for pregnant women: Initiativ Liewensufank

The Initiativ Liewensufank is a counseling center for expectant and new parents. They can ask any questions they may have about pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and parenthood. This institute was created to improve family conditions around birth through information and advice from professionals.
Free information and consultation (by phone or email) on all issues related to pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, life with babies, etc.

Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

https://www.liewensufank.lu/fr/ Email : info@liewensufank.lu Phone : +352 36 05 97

Learn more about daycare centers and childcare systems in Luxembourg.