Parental leave in Belgium (2026)

Last reviewed: 7 November 2026

In short: Maternity rest is 15 weeks, with a benefit of 82% of the wage for 30 days and 75% after that. Fathers and co-mothers get 20 days of birth leave. Parental leave is 4 months full-time per child, with dismissal protection around it.

RuleWhat applies
Maternity leaveTaking parental leaveMaternity rest is 15 weeks (17 weeks for a multiple birth). Prenatal rest is at most 6 weeks (8 for a multiple birth) before the expected date, and the 7 days just before the expected date are compulsory. The 9 weeks of postnatal rest are compulsory. Employees and the unemployed qualify for the benefit after a waiting period of 6 months and enough days or hours worked. [1]
Paternity leaveTaking parental leaveFathers and co-mothers who meet the conditions have the right to 20 days of birth leave, to be taken within 4 months after the birth. [2]
Parental leaveTaking parental leaveAn employee can take parental leave for each child up to the child's 12th birthday (21 if the child has a disability): up to 4 months full-time, or 8 months half-time, or 20 months at one fifth of the working time, and with the employer's agreement 40 months at one tenth. The employee must have been bound by a contract with the employer for 12 months in the 15 months before the request. [3]
Pay during leaveTaking parental leaveDuring maternity rest the health insurance fund pays 82% of the gross wage for the first 30 days and 75% of the gross wage (capped at the wage ceiling) from day 31; the maximum was EUR 140.09 a day at the 1 March 2026 ceiling. For birth leave the employer pays the full wage for the first 3 days and the fund pays 82% of the capped gross wage for the rest. Parental leave carries a flat-rate allowance from RVA that is not based on the wage. [1]
Job protectionTaking parental leaveFrom the moment the employer is told of the pregnancy until one month after the end of postnatal rest, the employer may not dismiss for reasons connected to the pregnancy or birth, and must prove valid reasons; if there are none, a lump sum equal to 6 months' gross pay is due. An employee exercising the right to parental leave is protected from the day of written notice until 3 months after the leave ends, with the same lump sum. [4]

Notes

  • The sources describe the rules for employees in the private sector. Public-sector and education staff can have separate rules, which were not read.

Sources

  1. RIZIV (Rijksinstituut voor ziekte- en invaliditeitsverzekering): Moederschapsrust voor werknemers en werklozen | RIZIV (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  2. Belgium.be (FOD Kanselarij van de Eerste Minister): Vaderschapsverlof en geboorteverlof voor meeouders | Belgium.be (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  3. RVA (Rijksdienst voor Arbeidsvoorziening): Ouderschapsverlof (infoblad T19) (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
  4. FOD Werkgelegenheid, Arbeid en Sociaal Overleg: Moederschapsverlof (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources

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