Social Security in Slovakia
In Slovakia, social security coverage is generally based on an individual´s economic activity rather than on their place of residence. The social security system falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic. Its administration is carried out primarily by The Social Insurance Agency and the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic.
Health insurance is administered separately from the social insurance system. The healthcare system falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic.
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The social security system in Slovakia consists of three main components:
(1) Social insurance - provides income protection in situations such as illness, maternity, unemployment, disability, work injury and old age. Employees and self-employed persons meeting the statutory conditions are compulsorily insured. Social insurance is financed through insurance contributions and administered by The Social Insurance Agency.
(2) Social assistance - provides means-tested assistance to individuals and families facing material hardship or social exclusion. Benefits and services are financed from the state budget.
(3) State social support - provides financial support to families and individuals in specific life situations, such as the birth of a child, childcare or the death of a family member. These benefits are financed directly from the state budget. Eligibility is generally based on residence in Slovakia rather than on insurance contributions or income, although each benefit has its own statutory conditions.
Key Legislative Acts of the Slovak Republic
Act No. 461/2003 on social insurance
Act No. 43/2004 on old‑age pension saving
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Social security for third country nationals
Social security coordination within the EU/EEA/ Switzerland
(including Cross‑border exchange of information on social security in the EU/EEA/Switzerland and Social security for migrant workers, employee’s posting and several jobs in the EU/EEA/Switzerland)
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In connection with childbirth and care for a newborn child, a female employee is entitled to 34 weeks of maternity leave.
A single mother is entitled to 37 weeks of maternity leave.
A woman who gives birth to two or more children at the same time is entitled to 43 weeks of maternity leave.
Maternity and paternity leave
In connection with childbirth and care for a newborn child, a female employee is entitled to maternity leave of 34 weeks. A single mother is entitled to 37 weeks, and a woman who gives birth to two or more children at the same time is entitled to 43 weeks.
Maternity leave generally begins six weeks before the expected date of childbirth, but no earlier than eight weeks before that date. Maternity leave in connection with childbirth may not be shorter than 14 weeks and may not end or be interrupted before six weeks have elapsed from the date of birth.
A father is entitled to paternity leave in connection with the birth and care of a child, in accordance with the conditions laid down by the Labour Code.
Maternity and paternity benefits
Maternity benefit (materské) is a social insurance benefit provided under sickness insurance and should be distinguished from maternity leave itself.
Entitlement generally requires the person to be covered by sickness insurance, or to be within the applicable protection period, and to have completed at least 270 days of sickness insurance during the relevant two-year period. The maternity benefit amounts to 75% of the daily assessment basis or probable daily assessment basis.
Fathers who meet the statutory conditions may receive maternity benefit for a period of two weeks within the first six weeks following the birth of the child, even if the mother receives maternity benefit or parental allowance during this period. Further entitlement to maternity benefit for a father or another insured person caring for the child is subject to specific statutory conditions.
Applications for maternity benefit are submitted to the Social Insurance Agency, where detailed information on eligibility, the application procedure and required documents is available.
Parental leave
To provide extended care for a child, an employer is obliged, upon request, to grant a female or male employee parental leave until the child reaches three years of age.
Where a child has a long-term adverse health condition requiring special care, parental leave may be provided until the child reaches six years of age. Parental leave is granted for the period requested by the parent, generally for at least one month.
Parental leave should be distinguished from parental allowance (rodičovský príspevok), which is a state social support benefit and is subject to separate eligibility conditions.
Employees are entitled to time off from work in certain situations defined by the Labour Code, including temporary incapacity for work, maternity and parental leave, caring for a sick family member, and certain circumstances requiring care for a child.
Employees may also be entitled to time off for their own medical examination or treatment and for accompanying a family member to a medical examination. Subject to the applicable conditions, employees are entitled to up to seven days of paid leave per calendar year for their own examination or treatment and up to seven days for accompanying a family member.
Pregnant employees are also entitled to paid time off for preventive medical examinations related to pregnancy where these cannot be carried out outside working hours.
The Labour Code also provides for time off in certain important personal and family circumstances, such as the birth of a child, death of a family member or marriage. The duration of such leave and whether it is paid depend on the particular circumstances.
Family-related state social support
Parents may also be entitled to various state social support benefits, subject to the specific conditions applicable to each benefit. These include, in particular: