Work and Care Act - Netherlands

Work and Care Act

As of April 2001, this is still not ratified by Parliament.

Relevant provisions under this Act include:

1. Pregnant workers may not work from 28 days before the expected date of confinement up to 42 days after they give birth to their child.
2. Sixteen weeks of paid (a the rate of 100% of wages) maternity leave is granted commencing (in most cases) six weeks before the expected confinement date. If confinement is overdue, the longer benefit period preceding childbirth is not deducted from the duration of the benefit after the confinement. This is paid from the Sickness Benefits Act in the case of employees and by the Invalidity Fund (Self-employed Persons) in the case of the self-employed. Should the female employee remain ill after the period of maternity leave, than she has the right of sickness benefits for a year.
3. Both parents are also entitled to unpaid parental leave. If the employer agrees, parental leave may be broken up into sections and taken at different times (three at the most).
4. Both parents are entitled to up to 10 days of care leave (to care for a sick child, partner or parent) per year paid at 70% of wages (half of the employer's cost is reimbursed).
5. An entitlement to four weeks’ paid adoption leave for both adoptive parents. Two days of paid Birth Leave for the partner of a woman who gives birth.