Minister Paul van Gennip (SZW) has outlined the contours of the new, simplified leave system. This system is built around three pillars: leave for caring for children, leave for caring for loved ones, and personal leave. The aim is to make the existing leave arrangements clearer and more accessible, without this being at the expense of the maximum payment amount or leave duration.

Leave for parents, loved ones and personal situations: what will change?

The first pillar includes arrangements such as maternity leave, maternity leave, parental leave and adoption leave. The withdrawal periods for these schemes are aligned as much as possible until six months after the arrival of the child. The application procedure will also be harmonized: employees must report their wish for leave at least six weeks in advance. The additional maternity leave will be reformed into a fixed right of ten weeks after the due date, regardless of the child's hospitalization. This provides clarity and reduces administrative burdens.

The hour criterion for the ZEZ benefit will be abolished for self-employed people. Instead, income is taken into account, so that the scheme is better aligned with practice and the UN Convention on Women.

The second pillar includes leave to care for loved ones. Short-term and long-term care leave are combined into one scheme of eight weeks. The first two weeks are paid at seventy percent of the wage, with a minimum of the statutory minimum wage. The remaining six weeks remain unpaid. This leave can be used more broadly, for example for palliative care or assistance to a neighbor in need.

The third pillar concerns personal leave, intended for situations in which work is temporarily not possible due to personal circumstances. Think of emergencies, short absence or grief. Within this pillar there is room for customization and decentralized agreements via collective labor agreements. In the future, new forms of leave such as bereavement leave or transition leave may also be added.

On the way to 2027: bill and evaluation in preparation

The aim is for the bill to come into effect on July 1, 2027. A draft bill is expected before the end of this year, followed by consultations and an implementation test by UWV. The evaluation of paid parental leave will also start this month, the results of which will be shared with the House of Representatives in the first half of 2026.