Swiss maternity insurance: a long way to go

Anyone who becomes a parent in Switzerland is entitled to time off work after the birth: 14 weeks for mothers and 2 weeks for fathers. That is the legal situation in our country.

In spring 2025, a cross-party family leave alliance consisting of alliance F, the Swiss Green Party, the Swiss Green Liberal Party, Travail.Suisse and the Swiss Centre Party for Women, with the support of the Swiss Social Democratic Party and the Swiss Evangelical People's Party, launched an initiative calling for 18 months of family leave for mothers and fathers.

The history of maternity insurance

This is reason enough to take a look at the history of maternity insurance in Switzerland – a long journey characterised by political resistance.

On 25 November 1945, an article in the constitution introducing maternity insurance was adopted by 76% of the vote – incidentally, only men were allowed to vote at the time. The idea behind the constitutional basis was to create a uniform regulation for mothers in childbed.

But for a long time, there was no agreement on what this regulation should look like: it took almost 60 years before a law was passed on this constitutional basis. Time and again, votes failed at the ballot box. In 1999, the introduction of maternity insurance was rejected by 61% of voters.

Canton of Neuchâtel in the pioneering role

In 2004, the parties agreed on a compromise that was also well received by the population. 55.4% of Swiss women accepted the proposal and on 1 July 2005, statutory maternity insurance came into force.

At least there were some earlier regulations at the cantonal level: Canton Neuchâtel was the first canton to introduce a regulation for mothers after childbirth in 1952. It was followed by the cantons of Vaud (1955), Fribourg (2001) and Geneva (2001).

The benefits of maternity insurance

The introduction of maternity insurance brings benefits for mothers and families:

1. Financial security: Maternity insurance offers financial stability, which reduces the risk of poverty for families. Before the introduction of a standardised regulation, mothers and families were dependent on voluntary benefits from employers.
2. Postnatal period: Women can take care of their newborn baby without having to work.
3. Security: During maternity leave, the mother is protected against dismissal.
4. Rethink: The recognition of motherhood as a vulnerable phase of life has led to greater awareness of the need to reconcile family and career.

Switzerland lags behind

Despite the positive achievements of maternity insurance, it remains to be noted that Switzerland is at the bottom of the list compared to its European neighbours. In most European countries, maternity leave begins 1 to 2 months before the birth. In Switzerland, on the other hand, women continue to work until the birth, unless they are released from work by a medical certificate.

Fathers have little baby break

In other European countries, fathers can also take parental leave after the birth of a child. Currently, fathers in Switzerland have two weeks of paternity leave. And this has only been in place since 2021. Previously, fathers had 1 to 2 days of paid leave after the birth of their child, depending on the industry and company.

The debate about extending maternity leave and more comprehensive parental leave is therefore still ongoing.