Significant changes are coming to maternity benefits through new provisions promoted by the Ministry of Labor. These regulations, which will be included in the upcoming fall insurance bill, aim to recognize all insurance days during the pregnancy and childbirth period for mothers.
What changes in maternity benefits
The Minister of Labor, Niki Kerameos, is promoting an innovative regulation that provides for the consolidation of all mothers’ insurance stamps from different providers. This reform will allow for comprehensive and fair calculation of insurance days, resulting in increased maternity benefit provisions. The new approach addresses a significant problem faced by working women with unstable insurance histories. Currently, maternity benefits are based exclusively on e-EFKA insurance, without calculating previous insurance from other providers.
Which mothers will benefit from the changes
Working women who have been insured with multiple providers during their pregnancy will see significant improvement in their benefits. Until now, many of them were not entitled to maternity benefits or received reduced benefits due to insufficient insurance days with their current provider. Additionally, women during their absence from work due to pregnancy and childbirth are considered on leave due to legal impediment. According to articles 657 and 658 of the Civil Code, they are entitled to compensation from their employer based on their years of service.
Benefits and rights of working mothers
Maternity benefits include provisions from different providers that combine to better cover the needs of working mothers. From EFKA, insured women are entitled to pregnancy benefits for 56 days before childbirth and childbirth benefits for 63 days after. These benefits equal the basic sickness benefit plus increases for family burdens. The requirement is that the insured woman has at least 200 working days in the last two years.
OAED provides supplementary maternity benefits that cover the difference between the daily benefit from EFKA and actual daily wages. These are granted after exhausting employer obligations and until completion of the 17-week mandatory leave.
Required documents for maternity benefits
To receive maternity benefits, interested parties must submit specific documents:
- EFKA insurance booklet
- Employer certificate with employment relationship details, employment termination, regular wages, and timeframe of obligations
- EFKA certificate for subsidy duration and daily benefit amount
- IBAN account number with the interested party as primary beneficiary
The new regulations for maternity benefits are expected to significantly improve the situation of thousands of working mothers, offering fairer treatment and higher benefits.
