Moroccan lawmakers propose longer maternity leave, flexible work for new parents

Lawmakers from Morocco’s Justice and Development Party (PJD) have introduced a bill that would extend maternity leave, strengthen protections for new parents and allow mothers to work remotely or part time after childbirth under certain conditions.

The proposed legislation seeks to amend Morocco’s Labor Code to better support working families and align national labor standards more closely with international practices on maternity protection and work-life balance.

Under the draft law, paid maternity leave would increase from the current 14 weeks to 20 weeks for a woman’s first and second child. The entitlement would rise to 22 weeks for a third child or in cases of premature birth, and to 24 weeks for mothers of twins.

The bill would also give women greater flexibility in organizing their maternity leave. Leave could be divided before and after childbirth according to medical needs and personal preferences, although at least 14 weeks would have to be taken after delivery.

Employers would be prohibited from requiring women to return to work during this mandatory postnatal recovery period. The proposal also obliges employers to reduce physically demanding workloads during the final stages of pregnancy and the weeks immediately following childbirth.

Current provisions allowing pregnant employees to stop working up to six weeks before their expected delivery date would remain in place. In cases where pregnancy or childbirth results in medical complications, maternity leave could be extended for the duration of the health condition. Women who give birth before their expected due date would still be entitled to the full leave period.

The legislation would also allow mothers to take up to 90 additional days of unpaid leave after maternity leave ends to care for their newborn, provided they notify their employer within 15 days of the end of their paid leave.

One of the most significant additions is a new provision allowing mothers to work remotely or adopt part-time schedules through an agreement with their employer. The practical implementation of the measure would be determined through future government regulations.

The draft law further strengthens protections against discrimination and dismissal during pregnancy and maternity leave. Employers who terminate the employment of a pregnant worker or a woman on maternity leave outside legally permitted circumstances could face fines ranging from 30,000 dirhams to 50,000 dirhams ($3,000 to $5,000).

The same penalties would apply to employers who compel women to work during their maternity leave or fail to suspend employment contracts as required by law.

The proposal also expands paternity leave rights. Fathers would be entitled to 15 days of paid leave for each birth. The benefit would also apply to employees who legally recognize or assume responsibility for a child. The leave could be taken consecutively or split into separate days within one month of the birth, subject to agreement with the employer.

According to the bill’s sponsors, the additional maternity benefits would be financed by Morocco’s social security system without increasing contribution rates for businesses.