Swiss Passport

Which statement about maternity leave in Switzerland is correct?

Welche Aussage zum Mutterschaftsurlaub in der Schweiz ist richtig?

Correct answer: D

  1. A Maternity leave lasts 20 weeks.Der Mutterschaftsurlaub beträgt 20 Wochen.
  2. B After the birth of the child, you must first use up your normal holidays. After that, there is maternity leave.Die normalen Ferien nach der Geburt des Kindes muss man zuerst aufbrauchen. Danach gibt es Mutterschaftsurlaub.
  3. C Women aged 20 to 50 may take maternity leave only once.Den Mutterschaftsurlaub dürfen Frauen im Alter von 20 bis 50 Jahren nur einmal beziehen.
  4. D Every woman who works and has a child is entitled to maternity leave.Jede Frau, die arbeitet und ein Kind bekommt, hat das Recht auf Mutterschaftsurlaub.

Why

Every working woman is entitled to 14 weeks of maternity leave with 80 percent of her wage after the birth.

Exam answer: «Jede arbeitende Frau hat Anspruch». More precisely: she must have been insured with the AHV in the 9 months before the birth and have worked for at least 5 months; 14 weeks, 80% of the wage, at most 220 francs per day (FSIO, 2026).

Common mistakes

A: Maternity leave lasts 20 weeks.
Maternity leave lasts 14 weeks, not 20.
B: After the birth of the child, you must first use up your normal holidays. After that, there is maternity leave.
Maternity leave comes in addition to holidays. You do not have to use up any holidays.
C: Women aged 20 to 50 may take maternity leave only once.
There is no age limit and no limit to one child.

Topic

Employment contract, notice, maternity

Anyone who starts a job concludes an employment contract with the employer. It sets out, for example, the wage, the working hours, the holidays and the notice period. Anyone who wants to end an employment relationship must give notice and respect the notice period. It is best to give notice in writing by registered letter or to have receipt confirmed. That way you can prove the notice.

Living in Switzerland
Work

Sources

Last checked: September 2026

Question 181 of the official question list of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.

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