Quick Answer: Employees in Israel are entitled to 15 weeks of maternity leave, paid largely through National Insurance (Bituach Leumi) rather than by the employer. Paternity leave allows a father or co-parent to take part of the maternity leave entitlement. Pregnant employees and those on maternity leave cannot be dismissed without a Ministry of Labor permit. Foreign workers who have accumulated sufficient National Insurance contributions are entitled to the same maternity benefits as Israeli employees.

Parental leave in Israel is among the more generous in the region, and it is primarily funded through Bituach Leumi (National Insurance Institute — the Israeli equivalent of social security). Understanding how it works is essential for any foreign national who is pregnant or planning a family while working in Israel.

1. Overview of Parental Leave Law

Parental leave in Israel is governed primarily by the Employment of Women Law 1954 (Hok Avodath Nashim) and regulations issued under it, as well as provisions of the National Insurance Law that govern payment during leave. Reforms over the past decade have progressively extended the leave period and made provisions more gender-neutral.

2. Maternity Leave Entitlement

An employee who gives birth is entitled to 15 weeks (26 weeks for multiple births) of maternity leave, of which she must take at least 7 weeks after the birth.

  • Paid portion: Up to 15 weeks of paid maternity leave for an employee who has worked for at least 12 months for the same employer before the birth (or 10 months in the 14 months preceding the birth). Payment is made by Bituach Leumi, not by the employer directly.
  • Unpaid extension: An employee who has completed 12 months of employment with the same employer may extend her leave by an additional period (currently up to 26 weeks total including unpaid leave), subject to her employer's size.

During maternity leave, the employer is not required to pay salary — the Bituach Leumi payment substitutes for salary during the paid leave period. The employer does continue to accrue pension contributions during leave.

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3. Bituach Leumi Maternity Payments

The maternity leave payment from Bituach Leumi is calculated based on the employee's average daily income in the 3 months preceding the leave. The payment replaces salary for the covered leave period — up to a cap set by the National Insurance Institute.

To qualify for Bituach Leumi maternity payment, the employee must have been insured (contributed to Bituach Leumi) for at least 10 out of the 14 months preceding the birth. Foreign nationals who have been working legally in Israel and having Bituach Leumi deducted from their salary — which is mandatory for all employees — are entitled to these payments once the contribution threshold is met.

The application for maternity payment is submitted to Bituach Leumi online or at a local branch. It should be filed promptly after the birth — there are time limits on retroactive claims. Your employer provides a statement confirming your pre-leave income for the calculation.

4. Paternity Leave

The father or co-parent of a newborn can take a portion of the maternity leave entitlement instead of the mother, subject to both parents' agreement and the mother's consent to transfer part of her leave. Under current law:

  • The father/co-parent may take paid paternity leave for a period of up to 7 weeks if the mother transfers that portion of her entitlement
  • From the 8th day after birth, the father is entitled to take one week of paid leave without the mother's transfer (paid by Bituach Leumi)
  • Both parents cannot receive Bituach Leumi payments simultaneously for the same leave period

Israeli parental leave law has been evolving toward greater gender neutrality. The current framework allows substantial flexibility in how leave is shared between parents, though the qualifying period and contribution requirements must be met by the parent claiming the benefit.

5. Protection Against Dismissal During Pregnancy and Maternity Leave

The Employment of Women Law 1954 provides strong protection against dismissal during pregnancy and maternity leave:

  • A pregnant employee cannot be dismissed without a permit from the Ministry of Labor.
  • An employee on maternity leave cannot be dismissed during the leave period.
  • After returning from maternity leave, additional statutory protection applies for a period of 60 days.
  • An employee undergoing IVF or fertility treatments is also protected from dismissal without a Ministry permit during treatment.

The Ministry of Labor rarely grants dismissal permits during pregnancy except in genuine business closure situations. Employers who dismiss pregnant employees or those on maternity leave without a permit face reinstatement orders, compensation, and potentially criminal liability under the Employment of Women Law.

6. Foreign Workers and Parental Leave

Foreign national employees who have worked legally in Israel and accumulated the required Bituach Leumi contributions are entitled to maternity leave payments. The key is the contribution history — if your employer has been deducting Bituach Leumi from your salary (as required by law), you build up your entitlement during employment.

Foreign workers on work permits tied to a specific employer should be aware that taking maternity leave does not invalidate the work permit — the leave period is a temporary absence from work, not termination. However, if the employer attempts to dismiss you during pregnancy or maternity leave, seek legal advice immediately: dismissal without a Ministry permit is unlawful regardless of your visa status.

New immigrants (olim chadashim) who arrive already pregnant may face complications with the contribution qualifying period for Bituach Leumi maternity payment — the 10-out-of-14-months contribution period starts from when you begin working in Israel. Early employment and contribution registration is therefore important for olim who plan to become pregnant.