Amendments to the Labour Law published in April 2026 gave fathers in Montenegro paternity leave of ten working days from the child's birth. The right does not depend on length of service or marital status, the father keeps all employment rights during the leave, and pay may not be lower than sick pay for pregnancy maintenance. An employer who denies the right pays a fine of 2,000 to 20,000 euros.
This guide explains paternity, maternity and parental leave, pay and fines.
What leave is there around a child's birth?
| Leave | Who takes it | Length |
| Paternity leave | the child's father | ten working days from birth |
| Maternity leave | the mother | 98 days, of which 28 days before and 70 days after birth |
| Parental leave | one or both parents | after maternity leave, up to 365 days from birth |
- The Labour Law amendments were published in Official Gazette 51/2026 on 15 April 2026 and entered into force on 23 April 2026.
- Parental leave of 14 months, with 60 non-transferable days for each parent, will apply only from Montenegro's accession to the European Union, so until then the 365-day rule applies.
Who is entitled to paternity leave?
- The child's father who is in employment is entitled, from the day of the child's birth.
- The right cannot depend on length of employment or length of work with the same employer.
- The right exists regardless of whether the father is married to the child's mother.
How is it paid and what must the employer provide?
- During the leave the employee has all the employment rights they had before it, including improvements in working conditions.
- Pay may not be lower than sick pay for pregnancy maintenance, which is 100% of the average basic wage.
- On return the employer must provide the same or a suitable job with conditions that are no less favourable.
- On a written request the employer may allow work from home or a different working schedule, and if it refuses, it must give reasons.
What is the fine for employers?
- A company that does not provide paternity, maternity or parental leave pays 2,000 to 20,000 euros.
- The responsible person in the company pays 200 to 2,000 euros, and a sole trader 500 to 6,000 euros.
- A probation period can last longer if the employee took paternity leave during probation.
Maternity leave and child benefit are covered in our guide to child benefit, and sick pay in our guide to sick leave. Annual leave is covered in our guide to annual leave, and protection from dismissal in our guide to employment termination. If a family needs help with the child after returning to work, babysitting and childcare offers are available on Glatko.
Frequently asked questions
How long is paternity leave in Montenegro? Ten working days from the day of the child's birth.
Since when does paternity leave apply? Since 23 April 2026, when the Labour Law amendments published in Official Gazette 51/2026 entered into force.
Is paternity leave paid? Yes, pay may not be lower than sick pay for pregnancy maintenance, which is 100% of the average basic wage.
Is a minimum length of service required for paternity leave? No, the right cannot depend on length of employment or work with the same employer.
Does an unmarried father have the right? Yes, because the right exists regardless of marital and family status.
When does the 14-month parental leave start? Only from Montenegro's accession to the European Union, and until then parental leave lasts up to 365 days from the child's birth.
Sources
Paternity leave, protection of the right, pay and the postponed parental leave come from the amendments to the Labour Law, Official Gazette 51/2026 (Articles 126a, 127a, 128a, 130 and 218f), and maternity and parental leave and the fines from the Labour Law, Official Gazette 74/2019 (Articles 126, 127 and 208). The level of sick pay for pregnancy maintenance comes from our sick leave guide, which relies on the Law on Health Insurance. The information was checked on 27 September 2026. Fijaka is a classifieds platform; this text is not legal advice.