Women who returned to work in the second year after giving birth should receive 100% of the maternity allowance due, instead of the previous 50%, the APS group requested
To grant pensioners a Christmas allowance of 200 leva. This was proposed by the deputy chairman of the parliamentary group of the Alliance for Rights and Freedoms Sevim Ali from the parliamentary rostrum during the debate on the Social Security Code.
„We fully support the proposal for the changes by which mothers who returned to work in the second year after giving birth should receive 100% of their maternity allowance due, instead of the previous 50%. This is a continuation of the APS priorities for social protection of young families, mothers and children. Already in the discussion on Budget 2025, we proposed an increase in maternity leave in the second year, so that mothers receive decent compensation.
The proposal is in line with the real economic situation in the country and the problems on the labor market that businesses and employers in our country are facing. If mothers receive full maternity benefits, they will be motivated to start working earlier and at the same time be sufficiently secure to meet the enormous costs of raising their children,“ says Sevim Ali.
He stressed that the earlier return to the labor market for mothers gives them the opportunity to continue their development and career, which in turn makes it easier for businesses to find employees with experience and qualifications.
“The proposed opportunity for mothers to return to work and receive their full maternity benefits will gradually create security and peace of mind among young people when starting a family and planning children. This is a small but sustainable step in the fight against the demographic crisis. But this is only possible if this legislative measure is adopted“, added the Burgas MP.
Sevim Ali emphasized that the figures show that full maternity leave in the second year will bring more revenue to the treasury than expenses.
According to data from the National Social Insurance Institute, if even just 25% of mothers return to work, the income from insurance contributions for the treasury will be over 26 million leva with only 2.4 million expenses. And with 50% of mothers returning to work in the second year, the income will be even greater — 53.6 million leva, the APS MP pointed out.
He called on all political forces to put aside their differences and support the proposal for full compensation for working mothers in the second year, as well as the Council of Ministers to help 2 million Bulgarian pensioners receive a Christmas allowance of 200 leva.