What is maternity leave?
Maternity protection is a law that is intended to protect the working mother and her child during pregnancy and breastfeeding. A goal of the maternity protection law is it to preserve the health of nut/mother and child and to prevent vocational disadvantage, which would possibly develop by the pregnancy. Women under maternity protection may not be dismissed.
The Maternity Protection Act is independent of the duration of the employment relationship, citizenship or type of work. According to §1 of the Maternity Protection Act (MuschG), all women who are in a training or employment relationship and students are subject to maternity protection. Special regulations apply to state and municipal employees.
What does maternity leave include?
Maternity protection includes not only the period of protection during which the child is not at work, but also measures to ensure the safety and health of mother and child at work. Furthermore, expectant mothers enjoy protection against dismissal. It is the employer’s responsibility to arrange the pregnant woman’s workplace in such a way that she is protected from any health hazard.
For example, a seat should be provided if the mother has been standing for a long time. In the case of permanently sedentary work, the mother should be given the opportunity for rest periods. The employer is obliged to release pregnant women for visits to the doctor. It is not expected that this time off will be made up. The pregnant woman may not carry out the following activities: Piecework or work at an increased work rate and flow work at a prescribed work rate Night work (20-5 o’clock) Operation of equipment and machines with high foot strain Removal of bark and bark Mining underground Lifting of more than five kilograms in weight or occasional lifting of more than ten kilograms in weight Dealing with harmful substances such as carcinogens, Work involving exposure to ionizing radiation, dust, gases, vibrations, heat, cold, dampness or noise Work involving forced postures (stretching, bending, stooping, squatting) Work involving contact with biohazards and toxoplasma and the rubella virus Work in rooms with excess pressure or reduced oxygen content from the 3rd day after the accident Work on means of transport such as buses or cabs from the 5th month of pregnancy Work that lasts longer than four hours
- Piecework or work with increased working speed and flow work with prescribed working speed
- Night work (20-5 o’clock)
- Operation of devices and machines with high foot stress
- Removal of bark and bark
- Mining underground
- Lifting of more than five kilograms or occasional lifting of more than ten kilograms
- Handling of harmful substances such as carcinogenic, toxic or fruit-damaging substances
- Work involving exposure to ionizing radiation, dust, gases, vibrations, heat, cold, moisture or noise
- Work involving forced postures (stretching, bending, bending over, squatting)
- Activities involving contact with biohazards and toxoplasma and rubella virus
- Work in rooms with overpressure or reduced oxygen content
- From the 3rd month of pregnancy, work on means of transport such as buses or cabs
- Work lasting longer than four hours from the 5th month of pregnancy
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