Since 2018, Germany has had a modernised Maternity Protection Act, which aims to guarantee pregnant and breastfeeding women the best possible health protection. Activities at work such as night shifts or piecework that can harm the mother or the child are prohibited.
Employers are not allowed to employ women six weeks before and eight weeks after the birth. In the case of premature births, twins and disabled children, the period of protection after birth is twelve weeks. Maternity benefits are paid during these periods. For more info:
https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-de/suche/faq-arbeit-und-familie-1779598
If the woman is not allowed to work at all during pregnancy because of a doctor’s orders, she receives maternity protection pay. What benefits parents or single mothers can get can be found here:
https://familienportal.de/familienportal/familienleistungen/mutterschaftsleistungen/was-sind-mutterschaftsleistungen-mutterschutzlohn-und-mutterschaftsgeld–124744
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Eine Kinderwiege. Foto: tünews INTERNATIONAL /
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