Paternity leave_2

Given the complexity of national legislation, differences between the Member States, and the need to facilitate the presentation of the data in graphic form, simplifications have been made in respect of a number of countries. The terms of legislation as it applies in the public sector are illustrated in cases where there is a difference with the private sector. Countries are ordered by the length of maternity or paternity leave granted. Given that national legislation may express leave periods in months, weeks, calendar days or working days, for the purposes of comparison, they are presented here in rounded weeks.
Some countries also have ceilings on the amount of money paid during maternity/paternity leave, but these are not addressed in this publication. When national legislation does not state exactly when the maternity leave is supposed to start, the earliest possible time was taken as the starting point.