Parental leave
Want to spend more time with your child(ren)? If so, parental leave might be for you. Curious what the conditions, rights and obligations are? We've put all the information together for you.
What is parental leave?
Parental leave is a statutory scheme that allows an employee to not work at all, part-time, four-fifths or nine-tenths for a certain period, in order to spend more time with their child(ren). Both fathers or co-parents and mothers can take parental leave for each of their children, including in cases of adoption. Since July, it is also possible in the case of long-term foster care.
What are the conditions for parental leave?
- Your child is under 12. If your child has a disability, you can take parental leave until they are 21.
- It is not possible to transfer your parental leave (partially) to your partner.
- Do you work in the private sector? Then you must have worked for the same employer for at least 12 months within the 15 months prior to the start of your parental leave.
- From your application until 3 months after the end of your parental leave, you are protected against dismissal.
When to apply for parental leave
Inform your employer about your plan to take parental leave.
- This can be done by email or by letter.
- Do this at least 2 months and at most 3 months in advance.
- Your employer cannot refuse your parental leave, but can postpone it by up to 6 months, provided they can prove that immediate leave would seriously disrupt the company.
- You apply for your parental leave online via the National Employment Office (RVA).
- The system automatically informs your employer as well, who then completes the employer section of the application online.
- After that, it is your turn again to complete the digital application.
If you want to split your parental leave into different periods, you must submit a new application each time.
Good to know
If you work in the private sector or the social profit sector and take parental leave, you may also be eligible for an incentive bonus.
This is an additional allowance provided by the Flemish government, on top of the interruption allowance for parental leave from the National Employment Office (RVA).
Different options parental leave
How your parental leave looks exactly is largely up to you. There are various options, and it is also possible to combine different options. For example, you could take 1 month off work and then work four-fifths for 15 months. You can read all about it on the website of the National Employment Office (RVA).
The amount of your invalidity benefit depends on your last gross salary and family circumstances:
- Employed or unemployed with dependants: 65% of the average daily wage (capped)
- Single person: 55% of the average daily wage (capped)
- Cohabiting person: 40% of the average daily wage (capped)
If you have a long-term illness, your health insurance fund can pay you the past-service bonus once a year, on top of your invalidity benefit. The past-service bonus tracks the health index and is a flat rate amount.
The invalidity benefit for the self-employed is a fixed, flat-rate, daily amount. The amount of the benefit depends on your family circumstances, and whether or not you cease your business activities.
If you have a long-term illness, your health insurance fund can pay you past-service bonus, on top of your invalidity benefit, once a year. The past-service bonus follows the health index and is a flat-rate amount.
You can also work four-fifths of full time for 20 months. This is divided into blocks of five months.
You can also work 9/10 for 40 months. These can be split into periods of 10 months or a multiple thereof.
Frequently asked questions about parental leave
Your employer cannot refuse to give you parental leave, but they can postpone it for up to six months. However, this is only permitted if they can prove that granting leave immediately would put the business in difficulty.
Parental leave is a type of career break that you can take from the birth of your child until their 12th birthday. Both parents are entitled to four months per child.
No, the parental leave allowance is the same for everyone who works full-time. For exact amounts, it is best to consult the website of the National Employment Office (RVA).
No, self-employed people are not entitled to standard time credit or parental leave.
Adoption has always entitled parents to parental leave, but recently parents who take a child into long-term foster care are also entitled to take parental leave.
How your parental leave looks exactly is largely up to you. There are various options, and it is also possible to combine different options.
For example, you could take 1 month of full-time leave and then work four-fifths for 15 months. Other options include staying at home full-time or part-time, or working four-fifths or nine-tenths. You can find all options on the website of the National Employment Office (RVA).
If one of the child’s parents does not take their entitlement to parental leave, that entitlement cannot be transferred to the child’s other parent.
Parental leave has no impact on your retirement date or your pension amount.
For more information, visit the Federal Pension Service or call the pension helpline: 1765.
More time to spend with your child?
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Discover everything about pregnancy
Also check the central file: everything about pregnancy.