Refund for Maternity Leave

If you are an entrepreneur or a business owner, you may be wondering: who pays for maternity leave and how does the reimbursement process work?

In this blog post, we provide a clear overview of the most important information and procedures.

WHO PAYS FOR MATERNITY LEAVE?

The employer pays the full salary to the pregnant employee. Afterwards, the state reimburses the employer for the salaries paid, starting from the day the employee officially begins her maternity leave.

WHO IS ENTITLED TO MATERNITY LEAVE?

All employed women who are pregnant and, due to the nature of their pregnancy, are required by a doctor to take maternity leave have the right to this benefit.

MATERNITY LEAVE REIMBURSEMENT

• When an employee opens maternity leave based on a medical certificate from her chosen doctor, the employer is entitled to reimbursement of 100% of the gross salary.
• The basis for reimbursement is the average salary over the last 12 months prior to the start of maternity leave.
• The employer pays the salary and all related contributions, while the state reimburses the full gross salary (net salary + taxes and contributions payable by the employee).

HOW TO SUBMIT A REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST?

The documentation is submitted to the Health Insurance Fund and must include:

• confirmation of the maternity leave issued by the doctor,
• proof of salary payments to the employee.

The deadline for submitting the request is 36 months from the date the maternity leave begins.

PROTECTION OF PREGNANT EMPLOYEES

During maternity leave, the employer cannot terminate the employment contract of a pregnant employee.

PROCESSING THE REQUEST

Once the documentation is submitted, the Health Insurance Fund requires approximately six months to process the request. The employer then receives a calculation of the reimbursed salaries for the requested months, and the funds are transferred to the employer’s account.

Maternity leave reimbursement is a clearly defined process that requires accurate documentation and respect of deadlines. Through this system, the state covers the cost of salaries for employees on maternity leave, while employers ensure the protection of their workers’ rights.

For more information on maternity leave and reimbursement, follow our upcoming blog posts. If you have additional questions, feel free to contact us – we will be glad to assist you.