Am I entitled to parental leave and is it paid?
It depends — yes, you are entitled to parental leave, but it is unpaid and must not be confused with maternity leave. The biggest myth is that “parental leave” is the same as paid maternity leave. It is not. Under the Labour Code (Law no. 7961/1995, as amended), maternity leave lasts up to 365 days and is paid by social insurance. Parental leave is something else: every parent with at least 1 year of continuous work with the same employer is entitled to no less than 4 months of parental leave, which they can take until the child turns 6. This leave is unpaid, an individual right for each parent and non-transferable to the other (except when one parent dies). It can be taken in parts, but no less than one week per year. So the real question is not “does the leave exist”, but “have you been employed for over a year and can you afford that it is unpaid”.
📋 The rules
- Maternity leave under the Labour Code (Law no. 7961/1995) lasts up to 365 days and is paid by social insurance — unlike parental leave.
- Every parent with at least one year of continuous work with the same employer is entitled to no less than 4 months of parental leave.
- Parental leave is unpaid and is taken until the child turns 6 (in adoption, within 6 years of the adoption, no later than the child's 12th birthday).
- The right is individual to each parent and is non-transferable to the other parent, except where one parent dies.
- The leave may be taken in parts, but no less than one week per year; the employer cannot refuse the right, but they agree on the timing.
🔓 Exceptions
- Beyond parental leave, a parent is entitled to up to 12 paid days a year to care for a dependent child, and up to 15 days for a child under 3 with a medical report.
- After returning to work, the mother (or parent) is entitled to 2 hours of paid leave a day to care for the baby, under the Labour Code conditions.
- Employees with less than one year with the same employer do not yet have the full right to parental leave, because it is tied to continuous seniority.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The risk here is twofold: financial and in the relationship with the employer. Because parental leave is unpaid, the months you take bring no salary; many parents confuse it with maternity leave and wrongly expect to be paid. If the employer refuses the right, times it badly or penalises you for asking, this breaches the Labour Code and can lead to a complaint to the Labour Inspectorate and to damages. Dismissal because you asked for parental leave can be treated as an unfair dismissal, entitling you to compensation. On the other hand, during unpaid leave some salary-linked benefits may be interrupted, so it pays to plan the period. The real cost is not a fine, but the lost income against the time with your child — and knowing the right precisely so you are not misled.
📎 Official sources
- QBZ · Labour Code (Law 7961/1995, as amended) →
- State Labour Inspectorate · family rights and leave →
- ISSH · maternity income and maternity leave →
❓ Frequently asked
Is parental leave paid?
No, parental leave is unpaid, and this is what sets it apart from maternity leave, which is paid by social insurance. Many parents confuse the two and expect a salary during parental leave, but it is a right to time off, not to payment.
How much parental leave am I owed and until when?
Every parent with at least one year of continuous work with the same employer is entitled to no less than 4 months of parental leave. It can be taken in parts until the child turns 6, but no less than one week per year.
Can I give my leave to my spouse?
No, parental leave is an individual right for each parent and is not transferable to the other. The only exception is when one parent dies, so each must use their own right within the legal time limit.
Do I get parental leave when I adopt too?
Yes, in the case of adoption, parental leave is given within 6 years of the adoption day, but no later than the child's 12th birthday. This gives adoptive parents the same protection as biological parents for caring for the child.
What do I do if my employer refuses the leave?
Refusing a right set by the Labour Code is a breach and can be complained about to the State Labour Inspectorate. If you are dismissed for asking for the leave, the dismissal may be considered unfair and give rise to a right to compensation.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
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- “parent rights at work”