Greece expands special maternity leave and benefits to more workers

special maternity leave Greece employment protection adoption part‑time workers

A new ministerial decision issued by the Greek Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance expands the special maternity leave and protection scheme to a wider range of workers. The decree, signed by Minister Niki Keramios and Deputy Minister Thanos Petralias and published in the Government Gazette, defines six principal pillars: it extends the entitlement to adoptive mothers, surrogate mothers and same‑sex couples; it includes part‑time employees, seasonal enterprises and workers insured in non‑wage schemes; it adjusts the calculation of the benefit to reflect the minimum wage and any additional employment periods; and it changes the payment method to a prepaid card account.

The Public Employment Service (DYPA) will continue to disburse the monthly allowance, which equals the statutory minimum wage plus related bonuses. The revised rules also allow employers to pay the employee’s full salary during the maternity leave without jeopardising the right to the special benefit. The reforms aim to strengthen maternity protection and promote work‑life balance for Greek mothers.

Entities

Greek Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance · Greek government · Niki Kerameos · Niki Keramios · Public Employment Service (DYPA) · Thanos Petralias · Thanos Petrialis

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 6 SOURCES] The benefit calculation now includes additional employment for partially employed mothers to ensure full subsidy. prismaradio.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · www.enikos.gr · www.powergame.gr · www.protagon.gr · +1 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] The decision was signed by Labour Minister Niki Kerameos and Deputy Minister Thanos Petrialis. www.protagon.gr
[● 6 SOURCES] The decision introduces six pillars, including eligibility for adoptive, surrogate and same‑sex mothers. prismaradio.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · www.enikos.gr · www.powergame.gr · www.protagon.gr · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] A new ministerial decision expands the special maternity leave and protection to more categories of workers in Greece. prismaradio.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · www.enikos.gr · www.powergame.gr · www.protagon.gr · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The new rules apply to workers in seasonal businesses and those previously insured in non‑wage schemes. prismaradio.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · www.enikos.gr · www.powergame.gr · www.protagon.gr · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The monthly benefit equals the statutory minimum wage plus allowances and will be paid via a prepaid card. prismaradio.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · www.enikos.gr · www.powergame.gr · www.protagon.gr · +1 more
[● 6 SOURCES] The benefit is granted even when the employer pays the employee’s full salary during leave. prismaradio.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · www.enikos.gr · www.powergame.gr · www.protagon.gr · +1 more
[● 4 SOURCES] The overall maternity‑leave duration has been lengthened from six to nine months. www.businessdaily.gr · www.enikos.gr · www.protagon.gr · www.tanea.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] The special leave can start from the child's inclusion in the family for adoption, even if the surrogate mother has already received the post‑natal part of maternity leave. prismaradio.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · www.enikos.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] Employers may pay the employee’s full salary during maternity leave without the employee losing entitlement to the special benefit. www.businessdaily.gr · www.enikos.gr · www.tanea.gr
[● 4 SOURCES] The decree was signed by Minister Niki Keramios and Deputy Minister Thanos Petralias and published in the Government Gazette. prismaradio.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · www.enikos.gr · www.protagon.gr
[● 6 SOURCES] Benefit entitlement is calculated based on the minimum wage and includes additional employment periods. prismaradio.gr · www.businessdaily.gr · www.enikos.gr · www.powergame.gr · www.protagon.gr · +1 more