Baku, Azerbaijan, Oct.24
Trend:
Protests demanding a refrain from making amends to the system of pregnancy benefits, provided by law "On temporary disability benefits" took place in Yerevan, in front of the Armenian government, Panarmenian.Net said.
The State Social Security Service has issued a draft amendment to the law "On temporary disability benefits", which proposes to rename the pregnancy benefits to motherhood allowance.
At the same time, the draft amendments provide reduction in benefits issued for working women since 2015, depending on seniority, the activists said. So, with a seniority of up to 1 year at one workplace, the benefits will be provided at the rate of 40 percent of the salary, with a seniority of 1-3 years - 60 percent of the salary, and with a seniority of more than 3 years - 80 percent of the salary. The upper limit restrictions are also established, according to which the amount of issued maternity allowance shouldn't exceed fivefold of the minimum salary.
"We welcome the granting of benefits to unemployed mothers, but not at the expense of working mothers," the activists said.
They submitted their letter of appeal to the government, which urged the authorities to refrain from making such changes, which contribute to the reduction of the birth rate among the working mothers, increase of migration of the working population, as well as violate the principles of social equity and gender equality.
The issue of benefits for unemployed mothers could be solved not at the expense of the working women, but at the expense of the return of luxury tax and the tax on expensive cars, which was canceled earlier, according to activists.
In September, the Armenian government approved a package of bills on amendments and additions to the laws of Armenia "On Benefits for Temporary Disability" and "On state benefits". However, those laws caused serious public response, in particular the regulations on the reduction of benefits for pregnant women.
Translated by EA
Edited by CN