Recently, the German Federal Cabinet approved the draft law which provides for new regulations on maternity protection. The reform will become effective as from 1 January 2017.
The key aspects of the new draft law are as follows:
- the period of protection (during which women cannot work) after the birth of a child with disabilities will be increased from eight to twelve weeks;
- a special termination protection for women who suffer a miscarriage after the twelfth week of pregnancy will be implemented;
- under certain circumstances, the Maternity Protection Act will not only apply to women in an employment relationship, but also to pupils and students, and during internships.
Actions for employers
As from 1 January 2017, companies with employees in Germany should be aware of the new law when handling with maternity protection cases.
Key contacts
Steve Bell
Managing Partner - Employment, Industrial Relations and Safety (Australia, Asia), Melbourne
Emma Rohsler
Regional Head of Practice (EMEA) - Employment Pensions and Incentives, Paris
Disclaimer
The articles published on this website, current at the dates of publication set out above, are for reference purposes only. They do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Specific legal advice about your specific circumstances should always be sought separately before taking any action.