Labor Laws
Hungary
Maternity Leave and Unpaid Leave in Hungary

Maternity Leave and Unpaid Leave in Hungary

1. How long is the maternity leave for an employee?
The employee is entitled to 24 consecutive weeks of maternity leave, with the obligation to use at least two weeks of it.

2. Who else is entitled to maternity leave apart from the mother?
Maternity leave is also granted to the employee who takes care of the child based on an enforceable court judgment or guardianship authority decision due to the health condition or death of the mother.

3. When must maternity leave be granted in relation to the expected date of birth?
In the absence of a different agreement, maternity leave must be granted no later than four weeks before the expected date of birth.

4. Can unused maternity leave be carried forward?
Yes, if the child is cared for in an institution reserved for premature babies, unused maternity leave can be used even after the child is dismissed from the institution, up to one year after birth.

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5. Does maternity leave count as time spent at work?
Yes, the duration of maternity leave is considered as time spent at work, except for entitlements specifically related to work.

6. How long can an employee take unpaid leave for child care?
An employee is entitled to unpaid leave until the child reaches three years of age, and the leave must be granted at a time corresponding to the employee's request.

7. How long is the unpaid leave for employees caring for an adopted child?
The employee is entitled to three years of unpaid leave from the start of the child's placement in care, or six months for a child older than three years, granted at a time appropriate to the employee's request.

8. Can unpaid leave extend beyond child care for a relative?
Yes, unpaid leave can be granted for the long-term personal care of a relative, expected to exceed thirty days, but not more than two years.

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9. How is the long-term care of a relative certified?
The long-term care and its justification must be certified by the attending physician of the person in need of care.

10. Is unpaid leave applicable for voluntary reserve military service?
Yes, the employee is entitled to unpaid leave for the duration of actual voluntary reserve military service.

11. What happens if the child dies during maternity leave?
If the child dies, the employee is entitled to maternity leave until the fifteenth day after the death.

12. What if the child is temporarily placed in care?
If the child has been placed in temporary or long-term education or a residential social institution for more than thirty days, the leave ends on the day following the child's placement.

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13. What is the minimum maternity leave duration after giving birth?
The minimum maternity leave duration after giving birth cannot be shorter than six weeks, even in the case of stillbirth or the child’s death.

14. Can unpaid leave be used until the child reaches adulthood?
Yes, the employee is entitled to unpaid leave for the personal care of their child until the child reaches the age of ten, during the period of child care benefits.

15. How much notice is required for unpaid leave?
The employee must notify the employer in writing at least fifteen days in advance for the use of unpaid leave.

16. When does unpaid leave end?
Unpaid leave ends at the time indicated by the employee, but no earlier than thirty days after the notification of the legal declaration to terminate the leave.

17. Are there exceptions to the notification deadlines for unpaid leave?
The provisions regarding the deadline do not apply to unpaid leave related to voluntary reserve military service.

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