Turkish government drafts 1-year paid maternity leave policy
Mother using a computer and holding her baby, accessed on April 21, 2025. (Adobe Stock Photo)
The Turkish government is drafting legislation that would significantly extend paid maternity leave for working mothers to one year, positioning the country among global leaders in family support policies.
According to a report published in Sabah newspaper, the draft proposal emerged from a meeting of Türkiye’s Population Policies Council, which has been developing short, medium and long-term strategies to promote population health.
The planned legislation would extend paid maternity leave from its current duration to a full year, while also allowing for up to 1.5 years of unpaid leave. The measure would additionally provide working mothers with childcare support.
Current regulations provide different paternity leave allowances for civil servants (10 days) and private sector workers (five days). The new regulation would eliminate this disparity, standardizing paternity benefits across employment sectors.
Türkiye to have one of most generous maternity leave provisions globally
If implemented, Türkiye’s new policy would place it among countries with the most generous maternity leave provisions globally. Currently, nations including Bulgaria (58.6 weeks), Croatia (58 weeks), and Sweden (68.6 weeks of shared parental leave) offer the most extensive paid leave benefits, while the United States provides no federally mandated paid maternity leave.
The move comes as many developed countries grapple with declining birth rates and aging populations, with family-friendly policies increasingly seen as tools to address demographic challenges while supporting workforce participation among parents.
Government officials have not yet announced a timeline for when the draft legislation might be formally introduced or implemented.
