Maternity leave Morocco law sets 14 weeks, in principle 7 weeks before the expected date of birth and 7 weeks after (articles 152 and 154 of the Labour Code). During the leave, the CNSS (national social security fund) pays a daily benefit equal to 100% of the average contributory salary, capped at 6,000 DH a month, if the employee has 54 days of contributions in the 10 months before the leave. This guide to maternity leave Morocco covers duration, benefits, formalities, nursing breaks, paternity leave and protection against dismissal. Updated 4 November 2026.
In brief
- Duration: 14 weeks (98 days), unless the contract, collective agreement or internal rules provide more.
- The employee may not work during the 7 weeks following the birth.
- CNSS benefit: 100% of the average daily salary over the last 6 months, within the 6,000 DH monthly cap.
- Condition: 54 days of contributions in the 10 months before the leave.
- Nursing: 1 paid hour a day for 12 months after returning to work.
- Protection: no dismissal during pregnancy and the 14 weeks after the birth, except for gross misconduct or another legal ground.
- Paternity: 3 days paid by the employer in the private sector.
Maternity leave Morocco rules at a glance
| Right | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Length of leave | 14 weeks | Labour Code, art. 152 |
| Split | 7 weeks before the expected date, 7 weeks after | art. 154 |
| Pathological pregnancy or confinement | Up to 8 weeks before and 14 weeks after, with a medical certificate | art. 154 |
| Leave to raise the child | Suspension of up to 90 days, then one year of unpaid leave possible with the employer’s consent | art. 156 |
| Nursing | 2 × 30 minutes a day, paid, for 12 months | art. 161 |
| Dismissal | Prohibited during pregnancy and 14 weeks after the birth | art. 159 |
| Benefit | 100% of the capped average salary, paid by the CNSS | social security scheme (CNSS) |
| Paternity | 3 days paid by the employer | art. 269 and 270 |
Rules checked on 4 November 2026 against the Labour Code (law 65-99) and the CNSS pages.
Duration and dates of maternity leave Morocco
Article 152 grants a pregnant employee, on a medical certificate, fourteen weeks of maternity leave. Article 154 allows her to suspend her contract from 7 weeks before the expected date of birth until 7 weeks after. Article 153 forbids employing her during the 7 consecutive weeks after the birth and asks the employer to lighten her tasks just before and just after.
Early birth and complications
- Birth before the expected date: the suspension is extended until the employee has used her 14 weeks (article 154). She informs the employer by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, stating her return date (article 155).
- Pathological condition: if a medical certificate shows it results from the pregnancy or confinement, the leave is extended by the length of that condition, up to 8 weeks before the expected date and 14 weeks after the birth.
Sample calendar
As an illustration, an employee expecting to give birth on Monday 15 March 2027 may stop work on Monday 25 January 2027. Her 14 weeks run until Sunday 2 May 2027 and she returns on Monday 3 May. If she gives birth on 1 March, two weeks early, her leave is still 14 weeks: she cannot return until 7 weeks after the birth, and the suspension is extended to use the full 98 days. Her protection against dismissal runs until 14 weeks after the actual birth.
CNSS benefits during maternity leave Morocco
The employment contract is suspended: the Labour Code does not require the employer to pay salary during maternity leave Morocco. The CNSS pays daily maternity benefits.
| Item | CNSS rule |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | Be registered and have 54 days of contributions during the 10 months of registration before the work stoppage |
| Amount | 100% of the average daily contributory salary over the last 6 months |
| Cap | Reference salary limited to the 6,000 DH monthly contribution cap |
| Period covered | 14 weeks, or 98 days |
| Condition during leave | Stop all salaried activity |
| Claim | Filed within the CNSS deadlines; a late claim is rejected, except on appeal for force majeure |
The 6,000 DH cap, in force since 2002, still applies in 2026. The contributions behind this right (short-term benefits) are detailed on our CNSS contributions Morocco page.
Example: salary above the cap
Take a sales manager paid 9,000 DH gross a month who meets the 54-day condition. The CNSS calculates her benefit on no more than 6,000 DH a month, not 9,000 DH: about a third of her salary is not covered for 14 weeks. If the collective agreement or contract provides for continued pay, the employer pays the difference; otherwise, nothing requires it. For an employee paid 5,000 DH, below the cap, the benefit covers her average contributory salary.
Formalities and payroll during the leave
- Before the leave: the employee provides the medical certificate of pregnancy with the expected date of birth.
- At the start: the employer stops salary at the suspension date and declares the days actually paid in the monthly return on Damancom, the CNSS online portal.
- CNSS claim: the daily benefit claim is filed with the CNSS with the documents it requires. Respect the deadline: the CNSS rejects late claims.
- During the leave: no payslip is due if the employer pays nothing; any contractual top-up appears on the payslip as salary.
- On return: the employee gets her job back with the benefits acquired before the suspension (article 156).
The CNSS benefit is exempt from income tax. Any employer top-up is treated as salary. See our Morocco payslip guide and our guide to income tax on salary in Morocco.
After the leave: extension and nursing
Extending to raise the child
At the end of the leave, the mother may stay away for a suspension of up to 90 days, informing the employer 15 days before the leave ends (article 156). With the employer’s consent, she may also take one year of unpaid leave. She may also resign without notice or termination indemnity, by registered letter sent at least 15 days before the suspension ends (article 157).
One nursing hour a day
For 12 months from her return, the mother is entitled each day to half an hour in the morning and half an hour in the afternoon to breastfeed, paid as working time and separate from company breaks (article 161). With the employer’s agreement, this hour may be taken at any time of the day. A company employing at least 50 female employees over 16 must provide a nursing room, on site or nearby (article 162).
Protection against dismissal
The employer may not terminate the contract of an employee whose pregnancy is certified, during the pregnancy and the 14 weeks after the birth (article 159). Dismissal for gross misconduct or another legal ground remains possible, but it may not be notified or take effect during the suspension. If the employee is dismissed before certifying her pregnancy, she has 15 days to send a medical certificate by registered letter: the dismissal is then cancelled (article 160). A fixed-term contract still ends on its expiry date.
Any clause contrary to articles 152 to 163 is void (article 164). Article 165 sets a fine of 10,000 to 20,000 DH for a prohibited dismissal, employing a woman in the 7 weeks after birth or refusing to suspend her contract, and 2,000 to 5,000 DH for refusing nursing breaks or failing to provide a nursing room. General termination rules are in our guide to severance pay in Morocco.
Paternity leave in Morocco
In the private sector, the father is entitled to 3 days for each birth, including when he acknowledges paternity (article 269). These days, consecutive or not by agreement with the employer, are taken within the month after the birth. The employer pays them as if he had worked (article 270). Civil servants have had 15 days since law n° 30-22 of 2022; as of 4 November 2026, no extension to the private sector has been adopted. Other types of leave are in our leave management Morocco guide.
Managing maternity leave Morocco without errors
Socium’s HR and payroll software for Morocco records the expected date, calculates the suspension period, blocks any termination procedure during the protected period and flags the end of nursing breaks. For the wider picture, see our payroll Morocco guide and the free payroll simulators. Official benefit conditions are on the CNSS maternity daily benefits page.
Frequently asked questions
How long is maternity leave Morocco?
14 weeks, or 98 days: 7 weeks before the expected date of birth and 7 weeks after, unless more favourable terms apply.
Is maternity leave Morocco paid?
Yes, by the CNSS: 100% of the average daily contributory salary over the last 6 months, within the 6,000 DH monthly cap.
How many contribution days are needed?
54 days of contributions during the 10 months of registration before the work stoppage.
Must the employer top up the salary?
The Labour Code does not require it. A top-up is due only if the collective agreement, contract or internal rules provide for it.
Can a pregnant employee be dismissed in Morocco?
Not during pregnancy and the 14 weeks after the birth, except for gross misconduct or another legal ground, and never with effect during the leave.
How long do nursing breaks last?
One paid hour a day, in two half-hours, for 12 months from the return to work.
How long is paternity leave in Morocco?
3 days paid by the employer in the private sector, taken within the month after the birth. 15 days for civil servants.
Can maternity leave Morocco be extended?
Yes: up to 90 days of suspension to raise the child, then one year of unpaid leave with the employer’s consent. In case of complications, on a medical certificate.
Key takeaways
- Maternity leave Morocco: 14 weeks, including 7 compulsory weeks after the birth.
- CNSS benefit at 100% of the average salary, capped at 6,000 DH a month, after 54 days of contributions in 10 months.
- No mandatory employer pay, unless a more favourable agreement applies.
- Nursing: 1 paid hour a day for 12 months.
- Protection against dismissal during pregnancy and 14 weeks after the birth.
- Paternity: 3 paid days in the private sector.
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