Paid parental leave

What changes?

The government has decided to pay the first 9 weeks of parental leave. Parents can take up to 26 weeks' leave. The Employee Insurance Agency (UWV) pays 50% of an employee's daily wages during parental leave, up to 50% of the maximum daily wage. The maximum wage (in Dutch) is adjusted twice a year. Parents will have to use the 9 weeks' paid leave in the first year after the child is born. They can use the remaining 17 weeks anytime after that, up to the child's 8th birthday. This leave will be unpaid, unless stated differently in the collective labour agreement (CAO) or company policy.

For whom?

Entrepreneurs with staff

When?

This change in law is expected to come into force on 1 August 2022.

Please note: The effective date of this measure is not yet final. Entry into force is subject to its passing through the upper and lower houses of parliament or proclamation of the Order in Council (Algemene Maatregel van Bestuur, AMvB) or ministerial decree and publication in the Staatsblad or Staatscourant (in Dutch).