11.06.2025

Maternity Protection from June, 1st 2025 also for Miscarriages

Employed women will be able to take off a period for their own protection after a miscarriage from the 13th week of pregnancy. For this purpose "The Act on the Protection of Mothers at Work", for everyone at the University (Maternity Protection Act - MuSchG), came into force on 1 January 2018.

Maternity protection periods now also apply to miscarriages from the 13th week.

After giving birth, mothers are subject to an eight-week protection period during which they are not allowed to work. Women who lost their child before the 24th week of pregnancy due to a miscarriage were not entitled to this maternity protection under previous legislation.

The new regulation provides maternity protection from the 13th week of pregnancy in the case of miscarriages. This is staggered in terms of the duration of the protection period.

From the 13th week of pregnancy, maternity protection lasts up to two weeks,

up to six weeks from the 17th week of pregnancy and

up to eight weeks from the 20th week of pregnancy.

However, the employment ban only applies if the woman does not declare her willingness to work. 

More information (in german language) Familienportals des Bundesministeriums für Bildung, Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend (BFSFJ).

Press release from the BMFSFJ dated 14/02/2025

Maternity Protection Adjustment Act in the Federal Law Gazette