Senegal extends maternity leave to 18 weeks under its new labour and social security codes
A government circular says the change applies immediately, including to existing contracts. The age limit for family allowances also rises to 25.
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Dakar — Maternity leave in Senegal is now 18 consecutive weeks, under a circular from the Ministry of the Civil Service, Labour and Public Service Reform setting out how the country's new Labour and Social Security codes apply.
The circular, published on 10 November, says the new provisions apply immediately to contracts already in force, with some exceptions it lists and separate rules for criminal provisions. It also raises the age limit for family allowances to 25. Both measures apply automatically to existing situations, PressAfrik reported, according to Senego.
Two new codes
The new Labour Code, created by law no. 2026-18, has applied since 19 September 2026, and the Social Security Code, law no. 2026-19, took effect the following day. Both were adopted by the National Assembly on 18 August 2026, each with 129 votes.
The circular asks government services and social security institutions to apply the new rules in the same way across the whole country.
Source: Senego, 12 November 2026.
