Rio de Janeiro expands leave for employees with disabled children

The Rio de Janeiro state government has sanctioned Law 11.314/26, which extends leave for state employees with children who have disabilities or rare diseases. The legislation, proposed by State Deputy Gustavo Tutuca, aims to ensure parents have sufficient time to provide essential early care.

The law also addresses cases of prolonged hospitalization. If either the mother or the newborn remains hospitalized for more than two weeks following childbirth, the maternity leave period will only begin once the last person is discharged from the medical facility. This ensures that time spent in the hospital does not reduce the period available for family care at home.

Under the new rules, mothers are entitled to full remuneration during their leave. The provisions may also be applied to paternity leave depending on future regulations. Implementation of these benefits will be subject to medical certification and the state's budgetary availability in accordance with the Fiscal Responsibility Law.