Faculty of
Business and Social Sciences Faculty of Business and Social Sciences

The Maternity Protection Act (Mutterschutzgesetz), which is intended to protect expectant and nursing mothers in the workplace and in study and training settings, was amended and entered into force on 1 January 2018.

The law is intended to safeguard the health of pregnant and nursing mothers and their children, and, in the case of students, to simultaneously enable them to continue their studies.

The Maternity Protection Act lays out a range of rights and obligations for the university and for pregant and nursing students. These are summarised in the following points.

If you are pregnant or nursing, please be sure to notify the university as soon as possible so that you can take advantage of maternity protection and the rights you are entitled to.

The notification should be submitted to the Faculty Service Office using this form.

The Faculty Service Office will provide you with information about next steps and is available to answer any questions you might have.

You will need to provide proof of your pregnancy in the form of a certificate from your doctor or midwife which lists the predicted due date. If your healthcare provider requires you to pay for this certificate, the fee will be reimbursed by your faculty upon presentation of the receipt.

Under the Maternity Protection Act, the university is required to inform the Agency for Occupational Safety of your pregnancy. The Faculty Service Office is responsible for doing this.

HAW Hamburg is legally obligated to carry out a risk assessment in order to evaluate whether you or your child are subject to harm or hazards as part of your studies and whether this constitutes an unacceptable risk under the Maternity Protection Act.

Such risks are especially possible in natural sciences laboratories or artistic workshops. For example, it may be the case that you are required to work with hazardous or biological materials or are exposed to physical impacts in these settings.

The form for the risk assessment is available from the Faculty Service Office:Bogen B 1.2 „Gefährdungsbeurteilung nach §10 Mutterschutzgesetz, Personenbezogener Mutterschutz (Risk assessment pursuant to Section 10 of the Maternity Protection Act, individual maternity protection

In those degree courses consisting primarily of lectures and seminars (limited risk), you and a staff member from the Faculty Service Office will complete this form together. If you are required to complete a laboratory or workshop internship during the period in question (pregnancy/nursing), please contact the lab or workshop instructor with the risk assessment form. They will complete the form together with you and will identify protective measures where necessary and possible.

If you are unsure whether you need to complete a laboratory or other internship during the period in question, please contact your departmental advisor prior to completing the form so that they can provide you with the information you need.

If it is determined through the risk assessment that you cannot attend a laboratory or other internship, the instructors of these units are obligated to give you the opportunity to complete an alternative assessment (e.g. a paper or take-home exam) in order to accommodate your special circumstances.

If you would like to take advantage of other compensatory measures which do not result directly from the risk assessment (e.g. more time for exams to allow for nursing breaks, additional breaks, early exams, etc.), please contact the chair of your examinations committee as early as possible.

The maternity protection period begins six weeks before the birth (due date) and ends eight weeks after delivery (12 weeks for premature and multiple births or the birth of a handicapped child). During this time, the Maternity Protection Act stipulates that you are not required to attend exams or mandatory courses.

However, you have the right to waive protection during these periods if you expressly declare this wish to the university. If you wish to do so, please use this form. You also have the right to withdraw this wish at any time. If you register for an exam that falls within the maternity protection period, this will automatically be considered the written declaration.

The university is obligated to exempt you from attendance at mandatory courses if you need to attend medical examinations or appointments related to your pregnancy. This is only the case, however, when it is not possible to arrange an appointment outside of the course times.

You are also entitled to attendance exemptions in order to nurse your child (a minimum of two 45-minute periods per day or one 90-minute period per day in the first 12 months following the birth).

The university is obligated to provide pregnant and nursing students with the possibility to rest in a suitable room where necessary.

Cots are available for this purpose in the first aid rooms at the various HAW Hamburg campuses. It is also possible to change and nurse your baby in these rooms.

You can contact your Faculty Service Office or the Occupational Safety and Conflict and Environmental Management Unit (AKU) to find out where these rooms are located.

HAW Hamburg offers a range of family-friendly services (e.g. daycares at the Berliner Tor Campus, emergency childcare, etc.). The Family Office provides comprehensive advising on these offers.

Contact information