Both employed parents or employed adoptive parents are entitled for four months each per child Parental / Adoption leave which has to be availed of until the child has attained eight (8) years of age. The first two (2) months or eight (8) weeks of paid Parental Leave, are not transferable between the parents and are eligible for benefit payment. However, the second two (2) months or eight (8) weeks of unpaid Parental Leave can be transferred between parents but are unpaid of any benefit.
Legal Notice 201 of 2022, provides that the first eight (8) weeks of parental leave is paid to the employer on behalf of parent / adoptive parent employees, on grounds of child birth or adoption. The applicable payment rate is the Married rate established for the Sickness Benefit for the year when Parental Leave was taken.
Employers shall claim a refund from the Department of Social Security for a maximum of eight (8) weeks of Parental / Adoption Leave period in four (4) two-week payment segments as shall be explained further ahead. The first four (4) weeks which may be claimed until the child is four (4) years old, can be claimed either separately in two (2) two-week segments or in one (1) four-week Parental / Adoption Leave claim.
In compensation the Maternity Trust Fund Contribution that came into effect as of 4th July 2015 through Legal Notice 257 of 2015 (Trusts and Trustees Act Cap. 331.), shall be adjusted to reflect the Work-Life Balance entitlements set up by Legal Notice 201 of 2022, of 12th July 2022.
The Public Service and Public Sector Entities, Authorities, Agencies and Public Corporations are exempt from this scheme’s contribution. However, Public Service and Public Sector employees are nonetheless entitled to the Parental / Adoption Leave., but not entitled for the refund by the Ministry/Entity involved.
