Maternity leave: 14 weeks at 100% of earnings with no ceiling; 8 weeks obligatory.

Paternity leave: none.

Parental leave: until 3 years after childbirth; family entitlement. Twelve months paid at 67% of average earnings during the 12 months preceding childbirth; if the father takes at least 2 months of leave, the overall length of benefit payment is extended to 14 months. No means test applies, but there is a ceiling of €1,800 per month. Instead of 12 (+ 2) months, the childrearing benefit may be spread over 24 (+ 4) months, but the monthly benefit level is reduced so that the overall payment remains the same. Parents receiving a childrearing benefit may work up to 30 hours a week. However, if the company they work for has less than 15 employees, they need their employer's consent.

Leave to care for sick children: up to 10 days per illness, for parents of children under 12 years at 80% of earnings with no ceiling. The maximum annual leave period that may be taken per family is 25 days.

Other: up to 6 months of unpaid leave for relatives of care-dependent persons.

Germany is a member state of the European Union (EU). It is a federal state, formed from the unification of the former Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany) and the former German Democratic Republic (East Germany) in 1990; some states (Länder) pay additional benefit to parents taking leave. The former leave entitlement was widely used by mothers. The new entitlement, introduced in 2007, has led to a substantial increase in fathers taking leave, up from 3.3% in 2006 to 15.4% in the first half of 2008.