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TU-Clausthal Equal Opportunity

Maternity protection (law)

A new Maternity Protection Act came into force on January 1, 2018 (Act on the Protection of Mothers at Work, in Training and at University [MuSchG]), which is based on the objectives of modern maternity protection.

This protects the health of pregnant and breastfeeding women and their children and enables them to continue working, insofar as this is responsible. In addition, maternity protection as a whole is intended to counteract disadvantages during pregnancy, after childbirth and during the breastfeeding period that may result from the implementation of maternity protection measures in the employment relationship. Existing working time and occupational health and safety regulations are taken into account and the special situation of pregnant and breastfeeding women is brought into focus.

The Maternity Protection Act applies to all pregnant and breastfeeding women in employment (excluding civil servants).

Maternity protection begins as soon as you are pregnant. However, TU Clausthal can only effectively protect your health and that of your child with the necessary protective measures if you inform it of your pregnancy or breastfeeding period. A brief notification to your personnel officer is sufficient. The notification should include the expected date of delivery. The protection period under the Maternity Protection Act begins 6 weeks before the expected date of delivery and usually ends 8 weeks after the actual date of delivery (12 weeks after delivery in the case of multiple births or premature births). During the protection period, women who are employed (with the exception of civil servants) are financially protected by the maternity benefit paid by the health insurance fund and the employer's allowance.

Important information on maternity protection can be found on the page of the occupational safety department page.

Further links on the subject of maternity protection:

Maternity protection for female civil servants is subject to special regulations. These special features are not explained here. This is because there are different regulations in the individual federal states and for female federal civil servants:

  • If you are a federal civil servant, the Federal Maternity Protection Ordinance applies to you.
  • If you are a state civil servant, the maternity protection ordinance of your state applies to you. In some federal states, the federal maternity protection ordinance also applies.