Hungary Considers Childcare Leave Reform to Support Working Parents

Published: November 23 2023

The Hungarian Parliament is considering a proposal to reform childcare leave in order to provide greater support to working parents. If the amendment to the Labor Code is passed, parents will have the option to take more than the current seven days of leave per year.

Under the proposed reform, employees will have the authority to decide when to take additional leave for their children. Employers will be obligated to grant the requested leave on the designated date chosen by the employee. However, employers may postpone or interrupt the leave under certain circumstances, such as an exceptional economic interest that directly affects the business.

Currently, the Labor Code in Hungary allows for a total of seven days of paid leave for childcare, regardless of the employee's total number of paid leave days. The employer has the discretion to determine when to grant the remaining days off. However, the proposed reform aims to give employees more control over when they can take leave to spend time with their children.

The Confederation of Workers' Councils (MOSz) has expressed support for the proposed reform. Imre Szilárd Szabó, executive vice-president of the confederation, emphasized that the purpose of parental leave is to allow employees to have quality time with their children, making it crucial for employees to have the flexibility to take leave when needed.

In Hungary, employee leave is composed of basic leave and various additional leaves. The minimum annual paid basic leave is 20 days, but the number increases based on age and other entitlements. Childless employees between the ages of 18 and 24 have the lowest leave entitlement. Employers may also offer additional leaves, with the duration increasing depending on the length of the employment relationship. Parental leave is available from the year the child is born until the child reaches the age of 16, with the number of days varying based on the number of children.

What is the proposed change to the leave policy in Hungary? The proposed change to the leave policy in Hungary would allow employees with children to take more days off instead of the current seven days a year.

Who would benefit from the proposed change? Employees with children would benefit from the proposed change, as they would have the option to take additional leave for their children.

Who would be responsible for granting the additional leave for children? According to the proposed change, employers would be obliged to grant the additional leave for children on the date specified by the employee.

Can employers postpone or interrupt the granting of additional leave? Yes, employers would still have the ability to postpone the granting of additional leave by a maximum of sixty days or interrupt the leave if there is an exceptional important economic interest or a reason that directly and seriously affects the employer's business.

What is the current leave policy for employees with children in Hungary? Currently, the law provides for a total of seven days of paid leave for employees with children, regardless of the number of paid leave days. The employer must grant these seven days of leave if the employee requests it. The employer decides when to grant the other days off, according to the law.

Are employers obligated to consider employee preferences for leaves of absence? No, except for the seven working days of paid leave, employers are not obliged to consider employee preferences for leaves of absence.

How many additional days of leave are employees entitled to for their children according to the Labor Code? According to the Labor Code in Hungary, employees are entitled to two days of additional leave for one child, four days for two children, and a total of seven days for more than two children.

What is the purpose of parental leave in Hungary? The purpose of parental leave in Hungary is to allow employees to spend more time with their children.

How many days of annual paid basic leave are employees entitled to in Hungary? Employees in Hungary are entitled to a minimum of 20 days of annual paid basic leave, but this number can increase with age or other entitlements.

Is parental leave available to employees with children of any age? According to the Labor Code in Hungary, employees are entitled to parental leave from the year in which the child is born until the year in which the child reaches the age of 16.