“Only Four Months of Maternity Leave” Is a Myth: Authorities Clarify Real Parental Leave Rights in Ukraine

The Labor and Employment Inspectorate of the Dnipro City Council has refuted widespread claims that Ukraine’s updated labor framework limits parental leave to just four months. Officials stress that such statements are misleading and fail to reflect the full range of leave options available to parents.

Multiple Types of Leave Exist

According to the Inspectorate, maternity leave related to pregnancy and childbirth is a separate category and is not included in the so-called “four months.” This leave lasts 126 calendar days (70 days before childbirth and 56 after), or 140 days in cases of complications or multiple births. Importantly, this leave is fully paid.

In addition, there is a one-time paid leave of up to 14 days following the birth of a child. This benefit is not limited to mothers — it can also be granted to fathers or, in certain cases, other relatives such as grandparents or adult family members.

What the “Four Months” Actually Means

The widely discussed four-month period refers specifically to a paid parental leave for childcare up to the child reaching eight years old. This leave is divided equally between parents: two months for the mother and two months for the father, and these portions cannot be transferred between them.

However, the leave is flexible in its use — parents may take it simultaneously, sequentially, or in separate parts. Single parents are entitled to use the full four months independently.

Additional Guarantees for Parents

The legislation also preserves the right to unpaid childcare leave until the child turns three, with the option to work part-time while retaining employment. If the child requires additional care, this leave can be extended up to six years based on medical certification.

Other guarantees include:

• Adoption leave lasting from 56 to 70 days;
• Additional annual leave (7–10 days) for parents with two or more children under 15 or children with disabilities.

These rights may also extend to guardians, adoptive parents, foster parents, and in some cases, other family members.

Officials emphasize that the narrative about “only four months of maternity leave” is a manipulation that oversimplifies the legal framework. In reality, Ukraine’s system provides a broader and more flexible set of parental leave options, allowing families to combine different types of leave to meet their needs.