Maternity leave extension, maternal employment and school enrollment: is there a link?
Resumo
This paper investigates possible effects of maternity leave extension from 120 to 180 days in Brazil on labor market participation of mothers. In order to do so, we explore changes in leave taking rules between January 2007 and December 2009 affecting public sector workers in a RD design. Using administrative data we are able to measure maternal employment outcomes. Results suggests there was no impact of extension on maternal employment one year after leave or at the time of the child's school enrollment. However eligibility for maternity leave extension increase maternal employment by 2 percentage points on maternal employment one year after childbirth for high income mothers. Preliminary findings indicate indicate no effect of leave extension on school enrollment by age 6.
