Parental leave
Rights regarding illness during pregnancy and after birth of a child
An expecting mother can be eligible for longer parental leave or increased parental grant if she can not work or fulfil requirements for sufficient progress of studies during her pregnancy due to health reasons or can not care for the newborn due to illness related to the birth.
All expecting parents can start their parental leave a month before the baby's expected due date.
Pregnant women that are unable to work during the pregnancy can be eligible for parental leave payments for up to two months during the pregnancy.
A mother's illness during pregnancy
Working over 25% part-time
A mother-to-be that is unable to work during the pregnancy due to health issues more than a month before the expected due date is entitled to parental leave payments for up to 2 months.
However, this extension of leave lapses if the baby is born before the expected due date, as the birth marks the beginning of the regular parental leave.
Student
A mother-to-be that has not been able to fulfil requirements of sufficient progress of studies due the health issues is eligible for a parental grant.
Definition of health issues:
Disease due to the pregnancy that cause the mother-to-be to be unable to work or study.
Temporary or chronic illness that become worse during the pregnancy and cause the mother to be unable to work or study.
Preventive measures to prevent premature birth or protect the health of the foetus.
It is important that a doctor supports the claim for extended leave or the effects on educational performance in accordance to the above. Results of a medical examination should be included.
Application for extension of parental leave/grant
Parental leave (for working mothers):
Medical certificate for maternity leave due to disease of mother (see standard forms below)
Employment termination certificate due to illness of mother during pregnancy
Here is a standard form for medical certificates:
Medical certificate for maternity leave due to disease of mother (English version – DOC)
Parental grant (for students):
Medical certificate (see standard forms below)
Here is a standard form for medical certificates:
Medical certificate for adequate educational performance and/or sufficient progress of studies (English version – DOC)
Illness related to the birth
If a mother can not care for her newborn during the parental leave due to serious illness following the birth, the parental leave/grant can be extended for up to 2 months.
A medical certificate must be submitted to The Maternity/Paternity Leave Fund. The certificate must include the following information:
that the illness can be directly linked to the birth
that the mother has been unable to care for the newborn due to the illness
results of a medical examination
Standard medical certificate form for working mothers:
Medical certificate for maternity leave due to disease of mother (English version – DOC)
Standard medical certificate for studying mothers:
Medical certificate for maternity leave due to disease of mother (English version - DOC)
Health and safety in the workplace
If health and safety of a pregnant woman, a new mother, or a breastfeeding mother is compromised according to evaluation, employers are required to make the necessary arrangements to ensure the mother's safety by:
temporarily changing the work environment and/or working hours
assigning different tasks to her
grant her a leave of absence during the time when it is necessary to ensure her health and safety
Changes to the work environment or working hours should not affect wages or other rights according to wage agreements.
A leave of absence for security reasons
When a pregnant woman is granted a leave of absence she might be eligible for payments from the Maternity/Paternity Leave Fund. This only applies to women defined as employees according to parental leave laws.
Documents that must be submitted to the fund:
Documents for employers:
Instructions for risk assessment of the work environment of pregnant women, new or breastfeeding mothers. Note: Only available in Icelandic.
Service provider
Directorate of Labor