[REVISION HISTORY]

French labor law and parental leave updates

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-30 18:02 UTC → 2026-10-11 09:05 UTC · added ~~removed~~

France has implemented several updates to labor laws and employee benefits regarding parental leave and family support. Starting July 1, 2026, a new supplementary birth leave allows employees to take one or two months of absence following a birth or adoption. This leave, funded by the Health Insurance system, provides daily indemnities of 70% of net salary for the first month and 60% for the second. This entitlement applies to any employee whose child was born or arrived in the household on or after January 1, 2026, regardless of seniority. Each parent—including mothers, fathers, or partners in a PACS—can take this leave either simultaneously or in alternation, and the leave may be split into two one-month periods. ~~Employers are responsible~~ Following a decree issued on May 30, 2026, specific application methods have been established for ~~transmitting leave requests~~ self-employed workers. Unlike salaried employees, self-employed individuals will receive a flat-rate indemnity rather than a percentage of net salary. For 2026, the daily rate is calculated based on the annual Social Security ceiling of 48,060 euros, resulting in 65.84 euros per day. Workers receive 70% of this rate during the first month and 60% during the second. To qualify for the full indemnity, a worker’s average annual business income (RAAM) must be at least 4,582 euros; otherwise, the indemnity is reduced to a flat 10% of the ~~Assurance Maladie via digital declarations or dedicated forms.~~ daily amount. Additionally, some corporations, such as Boiron, have introduced internal social agreements providing extra leave days based on employee seniority. Families must also navigate adjusted PreParE ~~(Prestation partagée d’éducation de l’enfant)~~ benefits between April 1, 2026, and March 31, 2027. ~~These include €459.69 per month for full suspension of work, €297.17 for activity reduced to 50% or less, and €171.42 for part-time work between 50% and 80%.~~ Further legislative changes effective June 14, 2026, have doubled the specific leave available to private-sector employees when a child is diagnosed with a serious illness or disability. The minimum leave period increased from five to ten working days to assist parents in managing medical appointments and family organization. This fully paid leave applies to specific chronic illnesses, rare diseases, and severe allergies.

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