Maternity and paternity
Maternity leave is an essential period for employees who are expecting a child. It is designed to guarantee the health and well-being of the mother and child during this crucial phase of life.
As an employer, it is important to understand the rights and obligations associated with this period in order to ensure a respectful working environment that complies with current legislation.
In a nutshell
When an employee is expecting a child, she can request maternity leave to prepare for the birth and welcome her baby in the best conditions. This leave consists of prenatal leave of 8 weeks and postnatal leave of 12 weeks.
To benefit from this leave, it is important that the employee has been affiliated to the sickness and maternity insurance for at least 6 months in the 12 months preceding the planned start of the maternity leave.
The CNS provides information on the procedures to be followed, the conditions and special cases.
Everything you need to know
- The condition
- The duration of the leave
- The procedures
- Compensation
Conditions of eligibility for maternity leave
To benefit from maternity leave, it is necessary to be personally affiliated to the sickness and maternity insurance for at least 6 months during the 12 months preceding the planned start of the leave.
Periods taken into account for the calculation of the 6 months
The periods taken into account for the calculation of the 6 months of affiliation include those during which the affiliation took place as:
- an employee,self-employed,
- an apprentice undergoing compensated vocational training in Luxembourg,
- a seafarer employed on a vessel flying the Luxembourg flag,
- a spouse or partner of a non-salaried person, if I have provided the latter with necessary services considered as my main activity,
- a relative or ally up to and including the third degree (in a direct or collateral line) of a non-salaried person for activities covered by the Chamber of Agriculture, if I have provided the latter with the necessary services considered as my main activity,
- a person covered by the law on development cooperation or by the law on Luxembourg's participation in peacekeeping operations as part of international organisations.
Maternity leave consists of:
- prenatal leave of 8 weeks before the expected delivery date, and
- postnatal leave of 12 weeks after the actual date of delivery.
Good to know
- If the delivery takes place before the expected date, the remaining prenatal leave days are added to the postnatal leave. The total duration of maternity leave will therefore remain 20 weeks in total.
- If the birth takes place after the expected date, the prenatal leave is extended without reducing the postnatal leave. The total duration of the leave will be 20 weeks, to which are added the days by which the birth is delayed in relation to the initially expected date.
Procedures to follow to obtain maternity leave
To benefit from maternity leave, the following steps must be followed:
- Knowing the due date It is necessary to calculate the key dates of the maternity leave, in particular the presumed start and end of the leave, as well as the first date for the establishment of the gynaecologist's certificate.
- Verification of entitlement: Maternity leave may be requested if the personal affiliation to the sickness and maternity insurance has been effective for at least 6 months in the 12 months preceding the planned start of the maternity leave.
- Application for maternity leave: A medical certificate indicating the expected date of delivery must be sent to the CNS.
Attention! To be valid, the medical certificate must be issued by a doctor (and not by a midwife) during the last 12 weeks of pregnancy. A certificate issued too early will not be taken into account.
- Sending the birth certificate: After the birth, a birth certificate must be sent to the CNS.
- Information on parental leave and family benefits: For information on parental leave, childbirth benefits and family benefits, it is recommended that you consult the website of the "Caisse pour l'avenir des enfants"(CAE).
- Information on paternity leave: For details on paternity leave (10 days granted to the father or to the person recognised as the second parent), it is advisable to visit Guichet.lu.
Benefits during maternity leave
Regardless of your professional status (employee, self-employed or apprentice), the benefit during maternity leave will be equal to the benefit provided in the event of illness or accident (without being able to exceed five times the social minimum wage).
To find out more: Determination of the financial benefit
The CNS pays my benefits at the end of each month. The table below shows the different due dates.
| Month | File closing date | Transfer date |
|---|---|---|
| 01/2025 | 23.01.2025 | 27.01.2025 |
| 02/2025 | 24.02.2025 | 27.02.2025 |
| 03/2025 | 24.03.2025 | 27.03.2025 |
| 04/2025 | 24.04.2025 | 28.04.2025 |
| 05/2025 | 22.05.2025 | 26.05.2025 |
| 06/2025 | 24.06.2025 | 30.06.2025 |
| 07/2025 | 24.07.2025 | 28.07.2025 |
| 08/2025 | 25.08.2025 | 28.08.2025 |
| 09/2025 | 25.09.2025 | 29.09.2025 |
| 10/2025 | 23.10.2025 | 27.10.2025 |
| 11/2025 | 24.11.2025 | 28.11.2025 |
| 12/2025 | 18.12.2025 | 22.12.2025 |
The administrations involved in maternity and paternity benefits
The CNS plays an important role in the coverage of pregnancy, but certain benefits are the responsibility of another administration: the "Caisse pour l'avenir des enfants" (CAE, called Zukunftskeess).
The CAE is in charge of parental leave and family benefits.
Paternity leave is an extraordinary leave of 10 days authorised for the father, whether employed or self-employed, as well as any person recognised as a second parent, on the occasion of the birth of a child, or the adoption of a child under the age of 16.
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