Birth leave (paternity leave)

As a father or co-parent you are entitled to 20 days of birth leave, to be taken within 4 months of the delivery. The first 3 days your employer continues your full pay; for the remaining 17 days you receive a mutual insurance benefit of 82 percent of your capped gross pay.

How do you take it?

The 20 days are an individual right: your employer cannot refuse or limit them. You choose whether to take them consecutively or spread them in separate days within 4 months of the delivery; spreading is often the best way for shift workers to combine rosters and newborn time. Notify your employer in advance (in writing is safest) and request the benefit for days 4 to 20 from your mutual insurance.

Pay and protection

Days 1 to 3 are ordinary pay from the employer, premiums included. From day 4 the mutual insurance pays 82 percent of your gross pay, capped at a ceiling; for higher wages that is a noticeable but temporary drop. You are protected against dismissal for reasons related to the birth leave, from notification until 5 months after the delivery.

Need more time?

After birth leave you can follow on with parental leave (4 months per parent per child, flexibly divided) or time credit with a care motive. Many young parents in industry combine: first the 20 days, then one day a week of parental leave. Plan it early with your planning, especially in a shift system.