Longer care allowance period for seriously ill children

The outline of a draft act amending the Act on Cash Benefits from Social Insurance in the Event of Sickness and Maternity and certain other acts has been published in the List of Legislative Works.  

The draft provides for granting up to 60 additional days of care allowance per calendar year in the event of a serious illness of a child under the age of 18. The entitlement will be granted by a doctor on the basis of the child’s state of health and need for care.  

The draft also provides for extending the right to time off work to care for a child (commonly known as ‘childcare days’). Currently, an employee raising a child under the age of 14 may take 2 days or 16 hours of such time off per year. Following the changes, the entitlement is to be available to parents of children under the age of 18, with the right to remuneration retained.  

Adoption of the draft by the Council of Ministers is planned for Q1 2027.