New labor law takes effect today with 90-day maternity leave, seniority-based annual leave from next year

Today marks the effective date of the amended Labor Relations Law, which entitles all female employees giving birth from this day forward to 90 days of paid maternity leave.

The amendments to the law were published in the Official Gazette yesterday, stipulating that under the new provisions, 60 days of the 90-day maternity leave must be taken immediately after childbirth, while the remaining 30 days may be taken – in whole or in part – either before or immediately after delivery, at the female employee’s discretion, thereby offering greater flexibility and practicality in the use of maternity leave.

The legislation was approved by lawmakers last week.

The amendments also revise the Public Administration Staff Statute, extending absence entitlements for involuntary miscarriage to 90 days and improving leave rules following stillbirth.

To support employers in adjusting to the extended maternity leave, the government has confirmed that subsidy measures will be made available to eligible small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that have already compensated their local female employees for maternity leave, with specific arrangements to be published at a later date.

Under the amendments, the revised annual leave provisions will come into force next year. The new law introduces a seniority-based entitlement, with employees starting at six working days and gaining one additional working day for every two full years of service, reaching a maximum of 12 working days after 12 years of service. The government described the measure as “designed to enhance work-life balance and foster a greater sense of commitment among the workforce.”