Parental leave allows you to pause your career after the birth or adoption of a child to focus on raising them. Both mothers and fathers are eligible. It's unpaid, though you may qualify for a CAF allowance under specific conditions—check with them for details. You can fully suspend your employment contract or switch to part-time work (at least 16 hours per week). To qualify, you must have at least one year of service with your employer. For your first child, leave totals 12 months, renewable once and splittable between parents (e.g., two periods of 6 months each). For a second child, it extends to 3 years total: up to 2 years for one parent and 1 year for the other.
Notify your employer in advance via registered letter—at least 2 months before starting (or 1 month before maternity leave ends). The same applies for extensions. Leave can be taken until your child turns 3. For adoptions, it's up to 3 years if the child is under 3, or 1 year if aged 3-16. Upon return, you'll resume your previous role after a meeting with your supervisor to assess any training needs.
