European employment insights: September 2023
As a general rule, the maximum duration of a maternity leave in Ukraine is 126 calendar days (140 calendar days in case of complicated or multiple birth).
LAW – Maternity leave rules change
On 29 July 2023 amendments to the Ukrainian laws on maternity leave, aiming at introducing flexibility in taking such leave by a female employee, became effective.
As a general rule, the maximum duration of a maternity leave in Ukraine is 126 calendar days (140 calendar days in case of complicated or multiple birth). Prior to the said amendments, the laws required the maternity leave to be split as follows: 70 calendar days of leave had to be taken prior to a childbirth on the basis of a medical certificate and the remaining 56 calendar days – after a childbirth, provided, however, that the total length of a maternity leave should not have exceeded 126/140 calendar days. From now on, the aforementioned division of a maternity leave shall no longer be mandatory and, in absence of medical contraindications, women shall be entitled to choose when to start their maternity leave. The maximum total duration of a maternity leave (126/140 calendar days) remains unchanged.
