Pregnancy protection is now allowed following a miscarriage
Streamlined Support for Pregnancy Loss in Berlin
Navigating the complexities of pregnancy and childbirth just got a little easier for some women in Berlin, thanks to new regulations for maternity leave after miscarriage. Here's what you need to know:
Changing Landscape of Maternity Leave
So, what exactly does this mean for women in Berlin?
To begin with, the Maternity Protection Act predominantly applies during the immediate pre- and post-natal stages. Typically, the protection periods span six weeks pre-birth and eight weeks post-birth, with women taking a break from their professional responsibilities during this time. They receive maternity benefits to replace their pre-pregnancy salary.
Miscarriage Considerations
Historically, women who experienced miscarriages before the 24th week of pregnancy relied on sick notes, as they were not entitled to maternity protection or benefits under the Maternity Protection Act. However, if a miscarriage occurred following the 24th week, benefits were available.
The New Rule
The recent rule change introduces a tiered system, with the length of the maternity protection period increasing with the stage of the miscarriage. If a miscarriage occurs from the 13th week, a two-week maternity protection period is provided. From the 17th week, women are entitled to six weeks, and from the 20th week, an eight-week leave can be claimed. No maternity protection claim is provided for miscarriages up to the 12th week.
Opting Out
Crucially, women have the option to continue working despite a miscarriage from the 13th week, if they so choose.
Extended Benefits for Self-Employed Women
The new regulation extends to women who are self-employed and compulsorily insured. In the future, even soldiers and civil servants will be eligible for maternity protection in case of a miscarriage from the 13th week of pregnancy. However, privately insured self-employed women are currently excluded from these benefits. The new federal government aims to extend statutory maternity protection benefits to the self-employed, as per their coalition agreement.
Impact on Women
The exact number of women benefiting from this new regulation is uncertain, as there are no official statistics available on the number of women who have claimed maternity protection in recent years or the number of miscarriages. Experts estimate that one in three women in Germany experiences a miscarriage.
Approximately 6,000 miscarriages occur between the 13th and 24th week of pregnancy each year, according to research by the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology. The majority of miscarriages, at around 84,000, happen before the 12th week of pregnancy. Currently, there is no maternity protection claim for these cases.
While the specifics of the new rule may vary, it represents a significant step forward in supporting women who experience pregnancy loss in Berlin.
Science reveals that about one in three women in Germany experiences a miscarriage, with approximately 6,000 occurring between the 13th and 24th week of pregnancy each year. This new regulation in Berlin's maternity leave policy, focused on women's health and mental health, offers extended protection for these women, including health-and-wellness benefits for self-employed women who were previously excluded.
