Maternity Protection

Maternity protection is a legal safeguard for pregnant women and mothers. It ensures that expectant mothers are not disadvantaged during the period before and after childbirth. For example, pregnant women are not allowed to work more than 8.5 hours a day and are entitled to maternity pay.

For residents in Germany and Austria, maternity protection usually lasts for 6 weeks before and 8 weeks after childbirth (§ 3 MuSchG). It is important to apply for maternity pay from the health insurance company in a timely manner. A common mistake is that many women fail to meet deadlines or are unaware that they also have no protection against dismissal during the maternity protection period.

Related documents on DokBrief:

• Application for Parental Leave — Information on parental leave after maternity protection.