Best and worst maternity leave policies around the world

A pregnant woman holds the bottom of her belly. (Twonix Studio / shutterstock.com)

More than 160 countries around the world provide some sort of maternity leave for women. This can range anywhere from four weeks to more than 52 weeks and can have women receiving 100 per cent of their wages or not being compensated at all.

According to the International Labour Organization, maternity leave should be a minimum of 14 weeks and women should be compensated at least 66.7 per cent of their previous earnings. This standard is met by countries all over the world. The majority of them are in Eastern Europe, with an average of 27 weeks leave.

Here are some of the best and worst maternity leave policies throughout the world.

Top five maternity leave policies

Country: Denmark and Norway

Length of maternity leave: 52 weeks

Percentage of wages paid: 100%

Country: Serbia

Length of maternity leave: 52 weeks

Percentage of wages paid: 100%

Country: Sweden

Length of maternity leave: 68 weeks (at least 60 days for each parent with the rest being transferable)

Percentage of wages paid: 80% for 390 days, lump sum for 90 days

Country: Croatia

Length of maternity leave: 52+ weeks

Percentage of wages paid: 100% for 26 weeks, lump sum for 26 weeks

Country: United Kingdom

Length of maternity leave: 52 weeks

Percentage of wages paid: 90%

Worst five maternity leave policies

Country: Papua New Guinea

Length of maternity leave: 6 weeks

Percentage of wages paid: 0% (maternity leave is unpaid but can use sick/vacation days to compensate)

Country: The United States

Length of maternity leave: 12 weeks

Percentage of wages paid: 0%

Country: Swaziland

Length of maternity leave: 12 weeks

Percentage of wages paid: 0%

Country: Lesotho

Length of maternity leave: 12 weeks

Percentage of wages paid: 0%

Country: Tunisia

Length of maternity leave: 4 weeks

Percentage of wages paid: 50% for women in agriculture, 67% for women covered by the Labour Code or 100% for civil servants

Sources:
Maternity leave benefits – UN data
Save the State of the World’s Mothers 2012 – Save the Children