Maternity leave

Every employee in the Caribbean Netherlands is entitled to continued payment during pregnancy. In total, the employee is entitled to 16 weeks of fully paid maternity leave. When pregnant with more than one child, an employee is entitled to 20 weeks' leave on full pay. The employer can be reimbursed for the wage costs incurred through the loss of wages benefit.  

Also there are additional measures to protect pregnant employees and employees who have recently given birth.

For more information, click on the link below that applies to you.

For the official laws and regulations governing pregnancy leave, see the BES Sickness Benefits Act.


Additions for pregnant employees and employees who have recently given birth, applicable since the first of January 2021, can be found in chapter 3A of Arbeidswet 2000 BES.