What changes
The Act Partially Amending the Act on Child and Child-rearing Support and Related Acts (Act No. 47 of 2024, promulgated 12 June 2024) amended the Employment Insurance Act to add two benefits from 1 April 2025.
The post-birth leave support benefit pays 13% of the wage at the start of leave, for up to 28 days, on top of the 67% childcare leave or post-birth leave benefit. Both parents must each take at least 14 days of leave: the non-birthing parent within eight weeks of the birth, the birthing parent within 16 weeks. The spouse condition is waived where the spouse cannot take leave, for example because they are not in work, are self-employed or are on maternity leave. Since benefits are free of income tax and social insurance contributions are waived during leave, 80% of gross pay is about the same as normal take-home pay.
The reduced-hours childcare benefit pays up to 10% of the wages paid while an employee works shorter hours to care for a child under two, partly offsetting the pay cut.
Both are paid by employment insurance, not by the employer, and are claimed through the employer at Hello Work.
Who it applies to
Employees covered by employment insurance at any employer, men and women, including foreign staff. Board directors are generally not covered.
Action for employers
- Brief expectant parents individually. The existing duty to explain leave options when an employee reports a pregnancy or birth should now cover the 14-day rule and the 13% top-up.
- Encourage fathers to take at least 14 days. The top-up depends on both parents; a father taking 10 days costs the mother her extra 13% too.
- Process claims promptly. Employers file benefit applications at Hello Work; check your payroll provider handles the two new benefits.
- Revisit company top-up schemes. Where you already pay salary during leave, check how it interacts with the statutory benefit before paying twice.
Sources
- Employment Insurance Act, post-birth leave support benefit and reduced-hours childcare benefit, as amended by Act No. 47 of 2024 (in force 1 April 2025).
- Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and Hello Work, leaflets on the creation of the two benefits from 1 April 2025.