Government approves extensions of maternity leave for first-time mothers

The recent decision by the Council of Ministers to extend maternity leave has been met with widespread approval. Labour and Social Insurance Minister, Yiannis Panayiotou, made the announcement following the Cabinet meeting on February 21st.

Under the approved proposal, maternity leave for first-time mothers will be increased from 18 to 22 weeks. This move is expected to benefit approximately 5,000 new working mothers each year. Panayiotou assured that the financial implications are well within the capabilities of the Social Insurance Fund, as confirmed by an actuarial study.

The next step involves presenting the bill to the House of Representatives for approval. If passed, it will directly impact thousands of new working mothers across the country.

Key provisions of the bill include extending maternity leave to 22 weeks for first-time mothers, whether through birth or surrogacy, and to 20 weeks for those adopting their first child. Additionally, the bill proposes extending additional maternity leave for infant hospitalization from 6 to 8 weeks.

Minister Panayiotou emphasized that this extension aims to support the balance between work and family life. It will enable new mothers to spend more time with their newborns during the crucial early months.