Maternity Protection

The legally set maternity protection (Mutterschutz) safeguards employees during the weeks and months around birth. Usually, maternity protection or the protection period have a duration of 16 weeks: eight weeks before and after delivery.  

Maternity protection codifies in the main:
• Employment ban during the weeks before and after confinement
• Dismissal protection

During the period of maternity protection, you can claim maternity allowance (Wochengeld).
The employment ban can be extended for health reasons, you will receive maternity allowance during the extended period, too.

What & Where
Notification of pregnancy and estimated date of confinement has to be given to the employer.
Links to human resources departments at Austrian public universities
The employer will then notify the labour inspection authority (Arbeitsinspektorat) by way of the form.
» Locations of Arbeitsinspektorate

Additionally, a doctor’s confirmation of existing pregnancy has to be attached.  

Four weeks before the start of the protection period, the employer has to be notified of the fact.
 
Legal text:
in the Legal Information Systems you will find the Mutterschutzgesetz (MschG).

Further information:
Arbeiterkammer-Portal
In the area "Beruf & Familie", the chamber of labour has collected the most important facts on maternity protection;
Brochure "Mutterschutz und Elternkarenz" as pdf.

Help.gv.at
The official auhorities’ guide for Austria informs on all rights and duties on the subject of maternity protection; there, you will find the online form.
» Information on the information and verification duties conntected to maternity protection