Mothers in parliament should receive maternity benefits despite their mandate

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When the Bernese GLP national councilor Kathrin Bertschy (43) participated in committee meetings and a session in the spring of 2019, it cost her dearly. She recently became a mother and has applied for maternity benefits.

The problem: if a parliamentarian participates in parliamentary sessions while receiving his maternity allowance, he loses it – even for his full-time job. The Federal Supreme Court recently confirmed this in a landmark ruling.

This must change: female parliamentarians on maternity leave should no longer lose their right to maternity benefits in their profession if they participate in council meetings. The competent committee of the Council of States has adopted a corresponding proposal for the attention of the councils.

Four initiatives

Four professional initiatives from the cantons of Zug, Basel-Stadt, Basel-Landschaft and Lucerne proposed a legislative change. The initiatives were clearly welcomed by the two State Committees of the Councils (SPK). The Council of States committee then sent a bill for consultation.

There, the bill was welcomed by the majority of the cantons and by all parties except the SVP, the parliamentary services said on Friday. However, four of the six trade associations were against it. In the SPK of the Council of States, the amendment to the law on the replacement of wages was finally accepted with 8 votes in favour, 2 against and 2 abstentions.

Compatibility of parliament and motherhood

According to the majority, the current situation is not only unsatisfactory for the affected women, but also for the institution of parliament and the electorate. The proposal should promote the compatibility of parliamentary mandate and motherhood. The new rules apply to sessions of parliament and commissions at the federal, cantonal and municipal levels.

The bill will now go to the Federal Council for advice before it is likely to be discussed in the summer session of the Council of States. (SDA/brother)

Source:Blick