"Parental leave will be extended to 24 weeks in 2025!"

With President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan declaring 2025 as the “Year of the Family,” an important regulation is expected for parents. The government plans to further develop the maternity leave application, which currently applies to working women, and expand its scope.

According to existing laws, female employees can take a total of 16 weeks of maternity leave, consisting of 8 weeks before birth and 8 weeks after. However, with the new regulation, this period will be extended to 8 weeks before birth and 16 weeks after birth, making a total of 24 weeks. This situation will bring a significant change in the lives of working families.

The new maternity leave regulation aims to eliminate a noticeable difference between workers and civil servants. Thus, an equal maternity leave period for all working mothers and fathers will be ensured. This implementation will allow families to spend more time with their newborn children while also helping employees to manage their work-life balance more effectively.

This step by the government will contribute to emphasizing family values in society and enable better fulfillment of the responsibilities that come with parenthood. This long-discussed reform is expected to enhance both the psychological and economic gains of families.

The implementation is anticipated to come into effect in 2025. During this process, it is crucial to provide information about employees' rights and clarify the details of the implementation. In this context, the increase in maternity leave is also seen as a step toward creating a parent-friendly environment in the workplace.