Maternity Leave Details
Your normal monthly wage before deductions
Employer's prior-year average contribution wage — ask HR; it drives the maternity allowance
Fills the reward-days box below; edit it freely
Editable — when local policy changes, update this number first
Difficult delivery adds 15 statutory days
Each additional baby adds 15 statutory days
Maternity Leave Result
How China maternity leave works
98 statutory days come from the 2012 Special Provisions on Labor Protection of Female Employees (State Council Order No. 619): 98 days in total, of which up to 15 days may be taken before the birth. Difficult delivery (including cesarean) adds 15 days, and each additional baby adds 15 days.
Provincial reward leave is added on top by each province's Population & Family Planning Regulations after the 2021 three-child policy — commonly 60 days (Shanghai, Beijing, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong, Hubei, Hunan, Fujian) or 80 days (Guangdong, Sichuan), for totals of 158–178 days. Reward leave is paid and counts as service. Provinces adjust these figures from time to time, so the reward-days box in this calculator is editable: set it to your city's current figure.
Maternity allowance vs salary (higher applies): if your employer enrolled you in maternity (medical) insurance, the fund pays a maternity allowance = employer's prior-year average monthly contribution wage ÷ 30 × leave days. Under the "higher applies" principle, if the allowance is lower than your normal salary the employer must top up the difference; if the allowance is higher, most regions pay the allowance instead of salary. If the employer did not pay social insurance, it must pay your full salary during maternity leave.
Job protection: under Article 42 of the Labor Contract Law, the employer cannot terminate on no-fault or redundancy grounds during pregnancy, maternity leave or nursing (until the baby turns 1). Unlawful dismissal in this window triggers 2N compensation. Nursing mothers are entitled to a 1-hour nursing break per day.
Provincial reward leave is added on top by each province's Population & Family Planning Regulations after the 2021 three-child policy — commonly 60 days (Shanghai, Beijing, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Shandong, Hubei, Hunan, Fujian) or 80 days (Guangdong, Sichuan), for totals of 158–178 days. Reward leave is paid and counts as service. Provinces adjust these figures from time to time, so the reward-days box in this calculator is editable: set it to your city's current figure.
Maternity allowance vs salary (higher applies): if your employer enrolled you in maternity (medical) insurance, the fund pays a maternity allowance = employer's prior-year average monthly contribution wage ÷ 30 × leave days. Under the "higher applies" principle, if the allowance is lower than your normal salary the employer must top up the difference; if the allowance is higher, most regions pay the allowance instead of salary. If the employer did not pay social insurance, it must pay your full salary during maternity leave.
Job protection: under Article 42 of the Labor Contract Law, the employer cannot terminate on no-fault or redundancy grounds during pregnancy, maternity leave or nursing (until the baby turns 1). Unlawful dismissal in this window triggers 2N compensation. Nursing mothers are entitled to a 1-hour nursing break per day.
❓ FAQ
How many days is maternity leave in China?
The national statutory base is 98 days (up to 15 before the birth), plus 15 days for difficult delivery or cesarean and 15 days per additional baby. On top, provincial reward leave adds 60–80 days in most provinces (e.g. Shanghai 60, Guangdong 80), so a standard single normal birth totals 158–178 days depending on the province.
Is maternity allowance the same as salary?
No. The maternity allowance is paid by the maternity (medical) insurance fund using the employer's prior-year average monthly contribution wage ÷ 30 × leave days. Under the higher-applies principle, if the allowance is lower than your normal salary the employer must top up the difference; if it is higher, most regions pay the allowance in place of salary.
Can my employer fire me during pregnancy or maternity leave?
Not on no-fault or redundancy grounds. Article 42 of the Labor Contract Law protects employees during pregnancy, maternity leave and the nursing period (until the child turns 1), and a fixed-term contract expires only after the nursing period ends. Unlawful dismissal in this window triggers 2N compensation.
Do foreign employees in China get maternity leave?
Yes. Labor protections such as the 98 statutory days, reward leave and dismissal protection apply to all female employees in China regardless of nationality. To receive the maternity allowance from the fund, the foreign employee must have been enrolled in China's social insurance (maternity benefits are now usually collected through medical insurance) by the employer.