Hi all,
We will soon be parents and my wife is working with a small company IT.In the entry vertrag there was no mention of any maternity leave rules. I would like to know what are the chances she being removed from the job if she takes maternity leave? and also how long is it advisable to take maternity leave.
What are the benefits or laws in Germany for the above.

Please mail so i am better equipped for any untoward sitation.

Hi Stier

First of all, congratulations.

Second: we are in Germany. There are laws and the laws exist to be respected. Of course in the contract is not written anything about maternity leave. This is a (very) personal matter and any employer are not allowed to ask or rule about this subject. And even an employer would dare to ask, the woman can refuse to ask due to legal matters.

If she (and she HAVE TO) take maternity leave, there is no risk to loose her job. I'm not sure about the time (I think is 6 months with salary and up to three years keeping her job but with no salary) but she has to leave some time before the birth date. Please better ask somebody, maybe her doctor.

Third:
Men, your wife will have a kid what should she do? Go to work anyway? Please, give her some rest!

Follow the links:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mutterschutzgesetz

Here says 6 weeks before birth she has to stop working and 12 weeks later. She has to receive also some money from Krankenkasse and you'll start receiving Kindergeld and maybe Kindererziehungsgeld (I think you won't get that because from 2005 you have to earn to few to get this)

Thanks a lot Yo, Actually a german friend of mine said that it might be that the company terminates you after you join the office . So i was a bit confused how much it is true .
Suppose if my child is born in a diff country how can i get the aufenthaltstitel for my child.

Hi Stier

Well... I insist. I´m not an expert but I think your friend is wrong.

Surely the boss of your wife won´t be happy but he cannot fire her. If he dare to do that, you can easily demand him and he will regret it, I can assure that. Anyway, it´s too late for "ifs" and you have only one way: continue with your way!. Go to the doctor, get the official certificate (your wife get a kind of pregnant book and the Krankenkasse is notified) and be happy.

The aufenthaltstitel of your son/daughter you get it after borned. You have to present the birth certificate (Geburtsurkunde) in the ABH and the pass of the child (or the note of the birth stamped in the pass of your wife) and he/she will get the same kind of permit than your familars with the same expiration date than yours.

Thanks YO,
The url and the information you have given is very much encouraging and hopefully that will solve a lot of my tension and my wife's also.
Hopefully others in this forum who arent aware will also benefit from this .

Thanks once again.

You are welcome Stier

Another thing to celebrate: it is not 100% ready but Frau Merkel want to support the comming of new child to this world.

For that reason, is supposed from 2006 you can also deduct from your taxes the expenses of your kids until 6 years old if your wife doesn't work and till the 14 if she works. This can reach the maximum of 4000 a year (I suppose the worst case and the best Steuerberater!)

I think are still any discussions to be developed, but the base is already agreed for the big parties in Germany.

Please keep us informed, just for all the people who needs to know

Congratulations, good luck and enjoy the moment

i guess YO u r the wikipedia in the forum .
Can you please tell me a link where even i can track all these new laws comin in force .. or is it that we have to keep a track of the newspapers.

Just follow the links

http://www.finanztip.de/recht/steuerrecht/stspab0010.htm

And searching for the keywords surely you can find more.

One euro more is always welcomed!