UGTA Secures Extension of Maternity Leave to 150 Fully Paid Days in Algeria
In a significant victory for workers’ rights and social protection, the General Union of Algerian Workers (UGTA) has successfully pushed for the adoption of a historic government decision extending maternity leave to 150 days with 100% salary coverage, as announced by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security on July 19, 2025.
This achievement is the result of persistent advocacy by UGTA through rounds of social dialogue and negotiation, emphasizing the need to protect the health and dignity of working mothers and their newborns.
Under the new provisions:
• Working women are now entitled to 150 days of paid maternity leave,
• Additional paid leave is granted in cases of difficult deliveries, newborns requiring special care, or postnatal complications,
• Extended sick leave is also available if the mother remains unfit to return to work after the 150-day period.
ATUC Welcomes This Achievement and Calls for Regional Replication
The Arab Trade Union Confederation (ATUC) warmly welcomes this progressive development and commends UGTA’s leadership in securing enhanced social protection for working women in Algeria. ATUC urges trade unions and governments across the Arab region to adopt similar measures, in line with ILO Convention No. 183 on maternity protection and international labor standards.
This victory underscores the power of collective bargaining and trade union action in achieving tangible improvements in workers’ lives, particularly for women.
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