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Termination

"Pregnant during your training — that doesn't work here."

You are pregnant and worried about your training place.

§ 17 MuSchG / § 7a BBiG / § 8 Abs. 2 BBiG

The boss may NOT do that
Dismissal is prohibited — and the training can be adapted.
From the start of the pregnancy until four months after giving birth, the company may not dismiss you (§ 17 MuSchG) — not even during probation if it knows about the pregnancy or is told within two weeks of the dismissal. The Maternity Protection Act expressly applies to trainees: there are employment bans for dangerous work, protection periods before and after birth, and paid time off for check-ups. Afterwards the training can continue part-time (§ 7a BBiG) or be extended on application (§ 8 (2) BBiG); parental leave is also possible and extends the training.

What the law says

§ 17 (1) MuSchG – Ban on dismissal
Dismissing a woman is not permitted during her pregnancy and until four months after giving birth if the employer knows about the pregnancy or is told within two weeks.
§ 7a BBiG – Part-time training
Vocational training can be carried out part-time; daily or weekly training time can be reduced by at most 50 percent.

What you can do

  1. Tell the company about the pregnancy as soon as you feel ready — only then does the protection apply in practice.
  2. Ask for the risk assessment of your workplace to be explained.
  3. Talk to the IHK/HWK about part-time training or an extension.
  4. Advice is also available from pregnancy counselling services and your union.

More cases: Termination