Greece expands maternity leave eligibility to more working mothers

The reform broadens access to the nine-month paid maternity protection benefit administered by the Public Employment Service (DYPA), covering adoptive mothers, mothers in surrogacy arrangements, as well as certain part-time and seasonal workers.

The measure aims to strengthen family protection while separating the purpose of the special leave from post-birth recovery. Under the new framework, the leave is primarily focused on the care and upbringing needs of the child.

Adoptive and surrogate mothers included
Under the expanded rules, eligibility is no longer limited to biological mothers.

Adoptive mothers can receive the special maternity protection benefit when adopting a child up to the age of eight. The measure also covers intended mothers in cases of surrogacy.

Under specific conditions, the right to the benefit can also be transferred to the father, providing families with greater flexibility in how they use the leave.

Part-time and seasonal workers gain access
One of the most significant changes concerns women working under part-time or seasonal employment arrangements.

Under the new framework, these workers can also qualify for the DYPA benefit, meaning that working fewer hours or taking seasonal employment to supplement household income does not automatically exclude them from special maternity protection.

The change is particularly significant for workers whose employment patterns do not follow a conventional full-time, year-round schedule.

Nine-month leave complements basic maternity leave
Under Greece's existing private-sector framework, the standard maternity leave covering pregnancy and childbirth lasts 17 weeks.

The additional nine-month maternity protection leave operates alongside this basic entitlement and can also be combined with the employee's regular annual leave.

The expanded framework therefore provides greater flexibility for working mothers and families when planning the transition back to employment following the birth, adoption or arrival of a child.