Maternity and Paternity Leave in LATAM in 2025
To remain compliant with local labor laws and promote family-friendly policies, companies must provide employees with the correct amount of maternity and paternity leave according to their country of residence.
In 2025, maternity and paternity leave policies in LATAM continue to evolve, with some countries extending paid leave or introducing new benefits to support working parents. Employers operating in multiple jurisdictions must stay informed about these regulations to ensure compliance and support employees effectively.
Below, we outline the maternity, paternity, parental, and adoptive leave policies in Latin America for 2025.
📢 A few things to keep in mind about MaternitY and paternity leave in latam:
✔️ The number of leave days applies to full-time employees.
✔️ Some private companies offer additional leave as part of their benefits package.
✔️The International Labour Organization (ILO) recommends a minimum of 18 weeks of maternity leave.
🇦🇷 Argentina
Maternity Leave
Female employees in Argentina receive 90 days of paid maternity leave, divided as follows:
45 days before birth and 45 days after.
Employees can reduce prenatal leave to 30 days and extend postnatal leave to 60 days.
During maternity leave, social security funds 100% of the employee’s salary.
Employers may not terminate employment during pregnancy and up to seven and a half months post-birth.
Paternity Leave
Fathers are entitled to 2 days of paid paternity leave covered by the employer. Some companies offer extended paternity leave as part of their benefits package.
Parental & Adoption Leave
Unpaid parental leave of up to six months is available upon request.
Adoptive parents receive the same 90-day paid leave if they adopt a child under seven.
Some provinces offer additional leave or financial assistance for adoptive parents.
🇧🇴 Bolivia
Maternity Leave
Bolivian mothers receive 12 weeks of paid leave. Social security covers 100% of salary, ensuring job security and income stability.
Paternity Leave
Fathers receive 3 days of paid leave, but some companies extend this period as part of their benefits packages.
Parental & Adoption Leave
Adoptive parents receive 12 weeks of leave, promoting family integration and bonding.
🇧🇷 Brazil
Maternity Leave
In Brazil, maternity leave lasts 120 days (4 months). The employer pays the salary, and social security reimburses the amount.
Some companies in the “Empresa Cidadã” program extend maternity leave to 180 days (6 months).
Employees cannot work during maternity leave and enjoy full job security during this period.
Employers must provide breastfeeding breaks when mothers return to work.
Paternity Leave
Fathers receive 5 days of paid paternity leave, but companies in the “Empresa Cidadã” program extend this to 20 days.
Some employers voluntarily offer additional parental bonding time.
Employees must take paternity leave immediately following birth.
Adoption Leave
Adoptive parents receive the same 120-day leave as biological mothers if they adopt a child under 12 years old.
- The law applies to both single and married adoptive parents.
- Social security funds the leave payments.
Brazil continues to expand family-friendly workplace policies, and many companies offer flexible return-to-work options for new parents.
Read more: Parental Leave in Brazil
🇨🇱 Chile
Maternity Leave
Chilean mothers receive 30 weeks of paid maternity leave. The period includes 6 weeks before birth and 12 weeks after. Mothers can take an additional 12 weeks part-time leave. Social security covers 100% of salary, ensuring financial security and workplace protection during maternity leave.
Paternity Leave
Fathers receive 5 paid days, which can extend if shared with the mother. Some employers offer additional days as part of their corporate benefits. Chile encourages co-parenting, ensuring fathers actively participate in early childcare responsibilities.
Adoption Leave
Adoptive parents receive the same benefits as biological parents. This ensures that children entering new families receive proper care and support from their caregivers, fostering a stable home environment.
🇨🇴 Colombia
Maternity Leave
Colombian mothers receive 18 weeks of fully paid leave. At least 1 week must be taken before birth. Social security covers 100% of the salary. Employers must ensure pregnant employees receive proper leave and cannot terminate employment during pregnancy or the maternity leave period.
Paternity Leave
Fathers receive 2 weeks of paid paternity leave, fully funded by social security. The government is considering extending paternity leave further, reinforcing the importance of equal parental responsibilities between mothers and fathers in the workplace.
Shared Parental Leave
Mothers can transfer up to 6 weeks of leave to the father. This allows for greater flexibility and encourages co-parenting. Parental leave policies in Colombia reflect a shift toward shared family responsibilities, improving gender equality in the labor market.
Read more: Parental Leave in Colombia
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🇨🇷 Costa Rica
Maternity Leave
Costa Rican mothers receive 16 weeks of fully paid leave, ensuring financial security. Social security covers 100% of salary.
Paternity Leave
Fathers receive 2 days of paid leave, which remains limited compared to other LATAM countries.
Adoption Leave
Adoptive parents receive 16 weeks of leave, offering equal parental rights.
🇪🇨 Ecuador
Maternity Leave
Mothers are entitled to 12 weeks of fully paid leave. Social security covers 75% of salary, while the employer funds the remaining 25%.
Paternity Leave
Fathers receive 10 days of paid leave, increasing to 15 days in cases of medical complications.
Adoption Leave
Adoptive parents receive 12 weeks of leave, ensuring equal treatment for all families.
🇬🇹 Guatemala
Maternity Leave
Guatemalan mothers receive 12 weeks of paid leave. Social security funds 100% of salary, ensuring workplace security.
Paternity Leave
Fathers receive 2 days of paid leave, which is among the shortest in LATAM.
Adoption Leave
Adoptive parents receive 12 weeks of leave, ensuring child bonding and support.
🇲🇽 Mexico
Maternity Leave
Female employees receive 12 weeks of maternity leave: 6 weeks before birth and 6 weeks after. Mothers can transfer up to 4 weeks of prenatal leave to postnatal leave. Social security covers 100% of salary, ensuring financial security for new mothers.
Paternity Leave
Fathers get 5 paid days of leave after childbirth. Some employers provide additional leave as part of corporate benefits. Expanding paternity leave remains a discussion point for labor policy reforms in Mexico.
Adoption Leave
Mothers adopting a child under 12 years old receive 6 weeks of paid leave. Fathers receive 5 days. Adoption leave ensures that parents can care for newly adopted children, supporting a stable transition into family life.
Read more: Parental Leave in Mexico
🇵🇾 Paraguay
Maternity Leave
Mothers receive 18 weeks of fully paid leave. Social security covers 100% of salary, ensuring financial stability. Employers cannot dismiss employees during pregnancy or leave.
Paternity Leave
Fathers receive 2 weeks of paid leave. Some private companies extend this period to encourage work-life balance and shared responsibilities.
Adoption Leave
Adoptive parents receive the same leave as biological parents, ensuring equal parental rights for caregivers.
🇵🇪 Peru
Maternity Leave
Peruvian mothers receive 14 weeks of fully paid leave. 7 weeks must be taken before birth. Social security covers 100% of salary, ensuring financial support during leave.
Paternity Leave
Fathers receive 10 days of paid paternity leave, extended to 20 days for complicated births or multiple births.
Adoption Leave
Adoptive parents receive the same rights as biological parents, ensuring legal protections and adequate bonding time.
🇺🇾 Uruguay
Maternity Leave
Mothers are entitled to 14 weeks of paid leave, with 100% salary coverage funded by social security. This provides sufficient time for postpartum recovery and bonding with the newborn.
Paternity Leave
Fathers receive 13 days of paternity leave, encouraging shared parenting responsibilities. Some companies extend this as part of corporate family-friendly policies.
Parental & Adoption Leave
Adoptive parents receive the same leave entitlements as biological parents. This ensures that adopted children receive necessary early-stage parental support, promoting healthy family integration.
🇻🇪 Venezuela
Maternity Leave
Mothers receive 26 weeks of paid leave. 100% of salary is covered by social security, providing strong workplace protection.
Paternity Leave
Fathers receive 14 days of paid leave, one of the longest paternity leaves in the region.
Adoption Leave
Adoptive parents receive 26 weeks of leave, ensuring equitable parental rights
Conclusion
Maternity and paternity leave in LATAM vary significantly, with some countries offering extensive benefits and others maintaining minimal requirements. Understanding these regulations is crucial for employers expanding in the region. Companies should ensure compliance while offering competitive parental benefits to attract and retain talent.
