WORLD Policy Analysis Center

Do countries guarantee part-time workers access to paid maternal leave?

Part-time workers are defined by the ILO’s C175 Part-Time Work Convention as employees “whose normal hours of work are less than those of comparable full-time workers.” The ILO asserts that part-time work has “grown in importance” over past decades—particularly for women for whom it is currently “the most widespread type of non-standard employment.” This indicator captures legislative entitlements to “part-time workers” as well as entitlements that are conditioned upon working a certain threshold of time in a defined period. A small number of countries extend guarantees to paid leave to “informal workers” and those countries are included in this category as well.

Paid maternal leave includes both paid maternity leave, which is leave reserved for mothers of infants, and paid shared parental leave—which is leave available to either parent of an infant—that can be taken by women.

Eligibility for paid leave benefits is assessed using individual countries’ threshold for part-time work in relation to weekly hours of full-time work as defined in national labor legislation, regardless of sector. For example, if part-time work is defined as working a minimum average of 20 hours per week in a country with a 40-hour work week, this is calculated as eligibility at 50% of full-time. Threshold calculations are defined in relation to normal full-time hours, and do not include overtime.

Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work means that workers are guaranteed national paid maternal leave, and legislation does not explicitly guarantee nor deny coverage to part-time workers. This category includes a limited number of cases where legislation states that future legislation or regulations will determine the extent to which existing provisions apply to part-time workers.

Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time means that countries explicitly include part-time workers and either: (a) there is a minimum eligibility threshold equivalent to less than 25% of full-time work in that country, (b) there is no explicit definition or threshold for part-time work, (c) part-time work is defined as a maximum (not a minimum) number of hours, or (d) part-time work is defined as “less than full-time.” Countries which prohibit discrimination in labor rights and entitlements on the basis of part-time work are also included in this category.

Countries

Marshall Islands - No national paid maternal leave

Micronesia, Federated States of - No national paid maternal leave

Nauru - No national paid maternal leave

Palau - No national paid maternal leave

Papua New Guinea - No national paid maternal leave

Tonga - No national paid maternal leave

United States of America - No national paid maternal leave

Algeria - Guaranteed to part-time workers working at least 50% of full time

Dominica - Guaranteed to part-time workers working at least 50% of full time

San Marino - Guaranteed to part-time workers working at least 50% of full time

Tajikistan - Guaranteed to part-time workers working at least 50% of full time

Honduras - Guaranteed to part-time workers working 25-49% of full time

Iraq - Guaranteed to part-time workers working 25-49% of full time

Republic of Korea - Guaranteed to part-time workers working 25-49% of full time

Malaysia - Guaranteed to part-time workers working 25-49% of full time

Montenegro - Guaranteed to part-time workers working 25-49% of full time

Namibia - Guaranteed to part-time workers working 25-49% of full time

South Sudan - Guaranteed to part-time workers working 25-49% of full time

Syria - Guaranteed to part-time workers working 25-49% of full time

Trinidad and Tobago - Guaranteed to part-time workers working 25-49% of full time

Afghanistan - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Andorra - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Antigua and Barbuda - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Australia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Azerbaijan - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Bahamas - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Bahrain - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Bangladesh - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Barbados - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Benin - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Bolivia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Bosnia and Herzegovina - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Botswana - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Brazil - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Brunei - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Burundi - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Cambodia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Cameroon - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Canada - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Chad - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Colombia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Comoros - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Democratic Republic of the Congo - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Republic of the Congo - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Costa Rica - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Cuba - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Czech Republic - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Djibouti - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Dominican Republic - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Egypt - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

El Salvador - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Equatorial Guinea - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Eritrea - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Estonia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Ethiopia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Gabon - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

The Gambia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Greenland - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Grenada - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Guatemala - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Guinea - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Guinea-Bissau - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Guyana - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Haiti - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

India - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Indonesia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Israel - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Jamaica - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Jordan - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Kenya - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Democratic People's Republic of Korea - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Kuwait - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Laos - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Lebanon - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Lesotho - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Liberia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Libya - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Liechtenstein - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Madagascar - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Malawi - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Maldives - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Mauritania - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Mexico - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Monaco - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Morocco - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

New Zealand - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Nicaragua - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Niger - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Nigeria - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Oman - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Pakistan - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Panama - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Paraguay - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Qatar - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Rwanda - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Sao Tome and Principe - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Sierra Leone - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Solomon Islands - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Somalia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Sri Lanka - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

St. Kitts and Nevis - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

St. Vincent and the Grenadines - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Sudan - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Suriname - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Eswatini - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Switzerland - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Tanzania - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Thailand - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Timor-Leste - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Uganda - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

United Arab Emirates - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Uruguay - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Vanuatu - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Yemen - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Zambia - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Zimbabwe - Guaranteed to workers generally, no exclusions based on part-time work

Albania - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Angola - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Argentina - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Armenia - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Austria - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Belarus - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Belgium - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Belize - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Bulgaria - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Burkina Faso - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Cabo Verde - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Central African Republic - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Chile - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

China - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Cote d'Ivoire - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Croatia - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Cyprus - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Denmark - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Ecuador - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Fiji - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Finland - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

France - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Georgia - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Germany - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Ghana - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Greece - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Hungary - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Iceland - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Iran - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Ireland - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Italy - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Japan - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Kazakhstan - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Kiribati - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Kyrgyzstan - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Latvia - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Lithuania - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Luxembourg - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

North Macedonia - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Mali - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Malta - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Mauritius - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Moldova - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Mongolia - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Mozambique - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Myanmar - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Nepal - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

The Netherlands - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Norway - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Peru - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

The Philippines - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Poland - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Portugal - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Romania - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Russian Federation - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Samoa - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Senegal - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Serbia - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Seychelles - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Singapore - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Slovakia - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Slovenia - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

South Africa - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Spain - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

St. Lucia - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Sweden - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Togo - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Tunisia - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Türkiye - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Turkmenistan - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Tuvalu - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Ukraine - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

United Kingdom - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Uzbekistan - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Venezuela - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time

Vietnam - Guaranteed to part-time workers working less than 25% of full time