Unpaid leave must be granted to the employee on request in the following cases:

to care for their sick child, aged under 15, requiring the presence of one of their parents, according to a medical certificate from the treating doctor, but not falling within the scope of the grand-ducal regulation of 10 May 1999 defining illnesses or impairments of exceptional severity within the meaning of articles 14 and 15 of the amended law of 12 February 1999;

• to look after one or more dependent children with heightened schooling difficulties, according to a certificate to be drawn up by the teacher or the competent psychologist;

to care for a first-degree relative or relative by marriage or a partner (upon presentation of a household record) who is ill or dependent and requires the presence of one of their close relatives, according to a medical certificate from the treating doctor.

The unpaid leave referred to in article 19.2. must be requested and granted in instalments of six calendar months, and in any event in a single request for the whole period for which it is desired. It may not end before its term, nor be renewed. It may only be taken on a full-time basis and may not exceed 24 months. A working period of at least eight months must be interposed between the unpaid leave referred to in article 18 and the unpaid leave referred to in article 19.2.

This leave must be requested by registered letter to the employer no later than two months before its start date.

The period of unpaid leave referred to in this article does not count towards advancements, nor towards annual and compensatory leave.