San Marino’s new law supporting families, maternity and birth rates introduces guaranteed minimum amounts for leave payments, with financial benefits that, according to CSdL (the Sammarinese Confederation of Labour), will affect roughly 90% of parents receiving such allowances. The union has analysed the effects of the reform using 2025 data provided by the ISS (Social Security Institute), highlighting the differences compared with the previous legislation, particularly for those with part-time contracts or low wages.
“We have repeatedly expressed appreciation for the new rights and the updating of existing ones introduced by the recent law on measures supporting families, maternity and births. We want to make some of its effects more visible, particularly with regard to parental leave (formerly post-partum leave) and pregnancy leave. For those with part-time contracts or particularly low wages, the difference is marked,” the statement reads.
The first measure concerns the allowance for early maternity leave, granted when a doctor orders a woman to stop working during the first six months of pregnancy due to tasks posing a risk to the mother or foetus.
“The amount is equal to 100% of salary, but in any case not less than the average contractual wage of an industrial worker, which in 2026 stands at €2,249.21 per month, before tax and contributions,” CSdL reports. After contributions, excluding FONDISS, the net amount comes to €2,073.77. In 2025, an average of 16 female employees per month made use of this measure: none received more than €2,000, two received less than €500, and four received between €500 and €1,000.
For pregnancy and post-partum leave, which lasts five months, the allowance remains equal to 100% of salary received, but a minimum equivalent to 80% of the average contractual wage of an industrial worker is now guaranteed. In 2026, this threshold is €1,799.29 gross per month, equal to €1,658.95 net of contributions, excluding FONDISS.
“In 2025, on monthly average, 61 female employees and 1 male employee received this allowance: only 13 of them received more than €2,000, while 6 received less than €500 and 8 received between €500 and €1,000,” the statement specifies.
The reform also changes parental leave up to the child’s first year, previously compensated at 40% of salary. “It has now been increased to 80% for the first three months, with a minimum amount of €1,500 per month, while it remains at 40% for subsequent months, but with a minimum of €1,000.”
2025 data show that this allowance was received by an average of 71 parents per month, including two fathers. Only one received more than €1,500, while 17 received less than €500 and 52 received between €500 and €1,000.
For the period following the first year and up to 18 months, leave remains compensated at 20% of salary, provided the child does not attend nursery school. The new feature is the introduction of a minimum of €500 per month. In 2025, an average of 16 parents per month made use of this, including one father, and none received more than €500. Both types of parental leave include increases in the case of twin births.
“Although in different proportions, it can therefore be said that parents who find themselves in a position to make use of these allowances will gain a significant financial benefit compared with the previous legislation in around 90% of cases,” CSdL maintains.
The union clarifies that the ISS data refer to the private sector and self-employed women. For the latter, based on average figures, the increases in pregnancy and post-partum allowances will affect 50% of cases.
“This measure alone may not necessarily lead to an increase in births, but it will certainly provide genuine and much-needed recognition for those who decide to bring a child into the world,” the statement concludes.
