Maternity protection

The Maternity Protection Act (Mutterschutzgesetz, MuSchG) protects the health of the mother and her child at the place of work, training and study during pregnancy, after childbirth and during the breastfeeding period.

You can find the Maternity Protection Act at: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/muschg_2018/

Maternity protection starts with the beginning of a pregnancy and ends with the breastfeeding period. It covers all women in employment, education or training, whatever their nationality or marital status.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, please notify TU Braunschweig of your status as early as possible, to ensure the necessary protection measures are put in place (risk assessment of work environment).

The Family Office has further information for students and staff on pregnancy and on combining your work or studies with family life. You can also make an appointment for a personal consultation.

The brochure “Leitfaden zum Mutterschutz” (guide on maternity protection) provides detailed information about the key aspects of maternity protection, including, for instance, the text of the new Act on Maternity Protection. You can access it online at www.bmfsfj.de/bmfsfj/service/publikationen/leitfaden-zum-mutterschutz/73756

Staff of TU Braunschweig will be given all relevant information by their contact in the HR department.
The guide on maternity protection and parental leave, which you may find helpful, is available on the intranet; it gives an overview of the related key provisions and issues.

The employment ban for (expectant) mothers is six weeks before the birth and eight weeks afterwards. In the case of premature and multiple births, the period after the birth is twelve weeks. Before giving birth, the woman may continue to work voluntarily. After giving birth, there is an absolute ban on employment. If the mother resumes work while she is still breastfeeding, she should inform her employer so that effective breastfeeding protection can be provided.

Since 1 January 2018, the Act on Maternity Protection has been extended to include students. To ensure that TU Braunschweig can take suitable protective action, you should notify the university as early as possible of your expected date of delivery and, where applicable, of the subsequent breastfeeding period. Please note that you won’t be able to benefit from the relevant rules if you do not let the university know that you are pregnant.

Under the Act on Maternity Protection, pregnant and breastfeeding students may not attend courses held between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. or on Sundays or public holidays. You can, however, expressly state your wish to attend courses held until 10 p.m. or on Sundays and public holidays. And you can withdraw this statement with effect for the future at any time.

During maternity leave, you interrupt your studies, unless you state expressly that you wish to continue with your studies during this time. This means that you can waive the right to the periods of protection before (six weeks) and after childbirth (eight weeks or twelve weeks in special situations). You can also withdraw these statements with effect for the future at any time. Please note that the right to maternity protection can’t be waived in cases where a risk assessment identifies an unacceptable risk to you or your baby during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

The notification of pregnancy is made to the appropriate faculty.

Pregnant and breastfeeding students can contact the Family Office for confidential advice and information.

Maternity protection forms for students

Maternity portection forms for faculties

Maternity protection

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