Maternity & Paternity leave

FÍN recommends that members maintain their rights with FÍN during maternity/paternity leave ”.

Mynd: Brynja Hrafnkelsdóttir

Here can be found general rules regarding rights during Maternity/Paternity leave but more detailed information can be found on Maternitiy Leave fund website. The rights applicable are different between Collective Agreements between FÍN and Government /Municipalities on one hand and Confederation of Icelandic Enterprises (SA) on the other hand.

The right of Maternity/Paternity leave arises when one of the following scenarios occur:

Birth of a child
Adoption of a child or taking a child in a permanent foster care
Miscarriage after 18 weeks of pregnancy
Stillbirth after 22 weeks of pregnancy

General rules

Maternity/Paternity leave is counted as part of the period which employment related rights are based on, such as vacations/holidays leave, seniority increases in pay, sick leave and periods of termination notices. Included is the right for payments of Vacation- and December bonus. Maternity/Paternity leave per parent is usually 3 months and 3 months which can be divided according to their choosing. Only this period can give the applicable rights even if the leave is distributed over extended period of time, i.e. the distribution.

As an example: A parent uses its 3 months and half of the dividable 3 months = 4.5 months and distributes that period over 9 months (50%). The rights collected for e.g. vacation leave is as if the parent was only working for 4.5 months (i.e. 50% of full right.) not for the full 9 months.

FÍN based benefits

During Maternity/Paternity leave FÍN recommends members to maintain their benefits. On the applicable form for the Maternity Leave fund members can request that the fund pays union fee to FÍN. That way all benefits stay unchanged during the leave, such as allocation from the Public Sick Fund, Vacation fund, Vocational training fund, FÍN Science Fund and Career Development Centre. In addition, members can request union related services, such as assistance due to work related dispute.

Maternity care

Pregnant woman has the right to necessary absence due to maternity service without any loss of fixed salaries. Here is a link to the regulation, please note that the text is in Icelandic and has not been translated by FÍN.

Summer leave after Maternity/Paternity leave and Christmas and Vacation bonus

FÍN members in the Private labour market

Maternity / Paternity leave counts toward employment related rights, such as Vacation leave and extension of vacation rights according to Collective Agreement, age related raises, Sick leave and termination notice. Maternity / Paternity leave doesn't count as part of accumulation period for calculation of Vacation pay.

Please note that for Vacation- and December bonus calculation the Maternity/Paternity leave only counts in working period if the employee has been working for at least 1 year.

FÍN members in the Public labour market

Maternity / Paternity leave counts toward employment related rights, such as extension of Vacation right (leave and pay), age related raises, sick leave and termination notice period. Maternity / Paternity leave counts as part of accumulation period for calculation of Vacation rights.

Right for Vacation- and December bonus calculation the Maternity/Paternity leave counts in accumulation period

Please note that this right is only applicable for a parent which has been working continuously for the mentioned employer (at least 25% job percentage) for 6 months or more prior to birth of the mentioned child and has valid employment at the beginning of the Maternity/Paternity leave.

Termination of employment

It's prohibited to terminate employment after announcement of Maternity/paternity leave or during such leave except if written reasoned arguments are given which are in no relation with such leave or intended leave.

Parental leave

Parents which have been employed on Icelandic labour market have a claim to take 4 months of unpaid absence from work. This right can be claimed until the child is 8 years of age. This right is independent for each parent but isn't transferable between parent, total of 8 months (4 months for each). Any employment rights already accumulated in the beginning of such leave is unchanged. This also includs any changes of accumulated rights based on laws or Collective Agreements.

Additional detail

Maternity and Paternity leave by Icelandic law and regulations (Fæðingarorlof og foreldraorlof samkvæmt lögum og reglugerðum)

Below you can find information regarding law and regulations about Maternity and Paternity leave. All texts are in Icelandic and have not been translated by FÍN.

Vinnumálastofnun is in charge of the Maternity and Paternity Fund. The fund handles all payments according to law nr. 95/2000 of Maternity and Paternity leave.
Calculation for Maternity or Paternity leave payment
Agreement on Maternity care. Please note that the text is in Icelandic and has not been translated by FÍN.

Maternity/Paternity grant from BHM (Fæðingastyrkur frá sjóðum BHM)

Maternity/Paternity grant from Private Sector Relief Fund of BHM are in addition to payments from the governments Maternity and Paternity Fund. Private Sector Relief Fund of BHM is for members in the General labour marked, Government, City of Reykjavik and Municipals.

Private Sector Relief Fund of BHM (General labour marked). Maternity/Paternity grant is in single payment for each member of FÍN. If both parents are members both can apply for the grant individually.
Private Sector Relief Fund of BHM (Public labour marked). Maternity/Paternity grant is in single payment for each member of FÍN. If both parents are members both can apply for the grant individually.