Parental leave in Greece (2026)
Last reviewed: 7 November 2026
In short: Maternity leave is 17 weeks, followed by a 9-month special maternity protection leave paid at the minimum wage. Fathers have 14 working days of paid leave, and each parent has 4 months of parental leave until the child is 8.
| Rule | What applies |
|---|---|
| Maternity leaveTaking parental leave | Maternity leave is 17 weeks for employees under private-law contracts: 8 weeks before and 9 weeks after the birth, and the split is compulsory. After an early birth the rest is given after the birth; after a late birth the pre-birth leave runs to the actual birth date without reducing the 9 weeks. Afterwards mothers have a special maternity protection leave of 9 months, of which up to 7 months can be transferred to the father. [1] |
| Paternity leaveTaking parental leave | Every employed father has 14 working days of paid paternity leave, to be taken around the birth of the child: either 2 days before the expected birth and the other 12 in one block or parts within 30 days of the birth, or all the days after the birth. It also applies to adoption or fostering of a child up to 8 years old. [1] |
| Parental leaveTaking parental leave | Each employed parent has an individual, non-transferable parental leave of 4 months, taken in one block or parts until the child is 8 years old. It needs 1 year of employment with the same employer, unless a more favourable rule or agreement applies. [1] |
| Pay during leaveTaking parental leave | During maternity leave the employer pays wages for 15 days, or up to one month after a full year of service, under Civil Code arts 657-658, and the mother receives a birth and postpartum allowance from her social insurance fund and a supplement from DYPA. During the special maternity protection leave (9 months) DYPA pays a monthly amount equal to the minimum wage (half if the employee worked up to 4 hours a day or 13 days a month), plus a share of holiday bonuses. Paternity leave is paid. For parental leave DYPA pays an allowance equal to the minimum wage for the first 2 months. [1] |
| Job protectionTaking parental leave | After parental leave the employee returns to the same job or an equivalent or similar one on no less favourable terms, and benefits from any improvement in working conditions that would have applied. Time on parental leave counts as actual service for pay, annual leave, career progression and severance. Time on the special maternity protection leave counts as actual service for annual leave, seniority and every right under labour law. [1] |
Notes
- The minimum wage amount is whatever is set at the time. The page names the employer's pay duty for maternity leave but not the allowance rate paid by the insurance fund.
- The Ministry page does not set out the dismissal rules for pregnancy and leave.
Sources
- Υπουργείο Εργασίας και Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης: Άδειες Εργαζομένων - Υπουργείο Εργασίας και Κοινωνικής Ασφάλισης (consulted 7 November 2026) · all sources
Related pages
General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.