Judgment_paragraph 12 · Nadežda Riežniece v Zemkopības ministrija and Lauku atbalsta dienests (C-7/12)

12The Labour Code (Darba likums, Latvijas Vēstnesis, 2001, No 105), in the version thereof applicable to the facts of the main proceedings, provides in Article 156:1. All workers shall be entitled to parental leave in the event of birth or adoption of a child. That leave shall be granted for a maximum period of 18 months, until the date of the child’s eighth birthday....3. The period during which the worker is on parental leave shall be considered to be a period of work.4. Workers taking parental leave shall retain their previous employment. If that is not possible, the employer shall guarantee them similar or equivalent employment, on working and employment conditions which cannot be less favourable.’