The Ministry of labor, Employment and Youth Affairs (AW&J) recently received dozens of complaints about employers and businesses that are active in the private and semi governmental sector but that do not comply with the law on maternity leave. It made it clear that maternity leave is set at 16 weeks and that  shortening this period is a serious violation of the law on the Labor Protection of the Family. Several complaints indicate that some employers stick to internal collective labor agreements that are not in accordance with the official laws. Some employers also assume that they do not have to obey the law if they are not registered at the Fund for Paternity Leave (FVO). The Labor Ministry made it crystal clear that such assumptions are misplaced and that it is mandatory for each and every employer to obey the law. There was a transition period of 3 years during which the employers had to adjust their internal rules so that their rules could also be in accordance with the law on Labor Protection of the Family that was proclaimed in 2019. The transition period officially ended in 2022. Employers are therefore expected to stick to the official law on paternity leave. Men are entitled to paternity leave of 8 days. The ministry reminded unions that they are also obligated to make sure that the paternity leave rights of union members are not violated. It is also mandatory for employers to register at the FVO. The Labor Ministry pointed out that employees must receive their full salaries and wages when they are on paternity or maternity leave.