Insights: Maternity Rights in Cyprus / Maternity Right Protection
An employed pregnant woman is entitled to maternity leave for 18 consecutive weeks. Nine of the weeks must be taken within the period beginning on the second week before the week of expected childbirth.
Female employees who adopt a child under the age of 12 years and who has notified the Department of Social Welfare Services of the adoption are entitled to 16 continuous weeks maternity leave starting immediately from the date on which care of the child begins. The employee has an obligation to inform her employer, at least six weeks in advance, of her intention to adopt a child and of the date of taking the care of the child.