How much parental leave do I get after a child is born?
After a child is born you are entitled to maternity, paternity and parental leave – maternity lasts 105 days, while paternity is now only 15 days. The rights are governed by the Parental Protection and Family Benefits Act (ZSDP-1) and administered by the social work centre. Maternity leave (105 days) is for the mother and may start up to 28 days before the due date. Under the latest rules parental leave is 160 days for each parent, of which 60 days are non-transferable – that part is lost if a parent does not use it. The most stubborn myth is that fathers get 30 days of paternity leave; that figure is outdated – paternity leave has been cut to 15 days, with the weight shifted to the non-transferable part of parental leave. The benefit is 100% of the base, capped for paternity and parental leave at 2.5 times the average wage, while maternity is uncapped. The system was reformed in 2023 and again by an amendment in force from 1 June 2026, so check the exact split of days with the social work centre.
📋 The rules
- Maternity leave lasts 105 days and is for the mother; it may start up to 28 days before the due date.
- Paternity leave is 15 days (once 30) and the father uses it from the birth up to the age set by law.
- Under the latest rules parental leave is 160 days for each parent, of which 60 days are non-transferable.
- The benefit is 100% of the base; for paternity and parental leave it is capped at 2.5 times the average wage, while maternity is uncapped.
- You claim the leave and benefit at the social work centre, generally before the leave begins.
🔓 Exceptions
- For the birth of twins or more children, and in some other cases, the leave is extended.
- Part of the parental leave is non-transferable (60 days per parent) and cannot be handed to the other parent; the transferable part is limited.
- Leave may be taken as full or partial absence from work, and part of it later, up to the age of the child set by law.
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Parental leave has no classic fines, but there are lost rights and benefits if you ignore the deadlines and the procedure. If you do not use the 60 non-transferable days in time, that part simply lapses and cannot be moved to the other parent. Anyone who does not claim the leave at the social work centre or misses the application can be left without the benefit for the period the application does not cover. The benefit is set from the base, so a lower or uninsured wage means a lower benefit, and for paternity and parental leave a cap of 2.5 times the average wage applies. During leave the employee is specially protected against dismissal, but only if the leave is properly registered; unregistered absence does not enjoy that protection. Because the system was reformed in 2023 and again in June 2026, miscounting the days often ends in a refused or reduced right, so checking the rules in force before the leave starts is essential.
📎 Official sources
- PISRS · legislation register (ZSDP-1, maternity, paternity and parental leave) →
- e-uprava · rights on the birth of a child and leave →
- Social Work Centres of Slovenia · parental protection →
❓ Frequently asked
How many days of paternity leave does a father get?
Paternity leave today is 15 days, not the 30 you often see in older sources. In addition, the father has an individual, non-transferable part of parental leave of 60 days, which he cannot hand over to the mother.
How long is maternity leave?
Maternity leave lasts 105 days and is intended for the mother, who as a rule starts it before the birth. It may begin up to 28 days before the due date, and part of it is compulsory around the birth itself.
What does the non-transferable part of parental leave mean?
Each parent is entitled to 60 days of parental leave that cannot be transferred to the other parent. If this non-transferable part is not used, it simply lapses, which encourages both parents to take leave.
How much is the benefit during leave?
The benefit is 100% of the base, which is calculated from the insured person's past wages. For paternity and parental benefit a cap of 2.5 times the average monthly wage applies, while maternity benefit is uncapped.
Where do I claim the right to leave?
You claim maternity, paternity and parental leave and the benefit at the social work centre. The application must be filed in time, generally before each leave begins, or you can be left without benefit for the missed period.
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