Law No. 7578, adopted on 22.04.2026, has extended maternity leave for female employees under the Labour Law from 16 to 24 weeks and paternity leave from 5 to 10 days. The changes entered into force on 01.05.2026.

1. Maternity leave

Time worked with a doctor's approval during the period before birth continues to be added to the leave after birth.

2. Paternity leave

Under Additional Article 2 of the Labour Law, paid leave for an employee whose spouse gives birth has been increased from 5 to 10 days. Pay during this leave is paid by the employer.

3. Temporary incapacity allowance

With the change to Law No. 5510, the period of temporary incapacity allowance paid by SGK in the case of maternity has also been extended to 24 weeks (26 weeks for multiple pregnancy). SGK will therefore pay the allowance to the employee for the extended leave periods.

4. Transition period

Employees whose maternity leave had ended when the Law entered into force, but for whom 24 weeks from the date of birth had not yet passed, can use the additional leave if they apply within the period set in the Law. For requests for additional leave and start dates, the transitional provision of the Law and the explanations in SGK's circular on maternity leave should be taken into account.

5. What employers should watch out for

We recommend:

• updating leave periods in HR procedures and employment contract annexes,
• making absence notifications and missing-day codes correctly during maternity leave,
• reflecting paternity leave as 10 days in the payroll,
• assessing the need for temporary staff in advance when planning long-term leave.

This circular is for general information only. Please contact us about your specific situation. The Turkish original is available here.

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