“Motherhood knows no profession, motherhood is a quality in itself. That’s why, last week, we made a big change, extending the maternity allowance to farmers, freelancers and self-employed women through a new platform” said the Minister of Labor and Social Security, Domna Michailidou, in an interview with Parapolitika 90.1.

As he said, “until recently, there was the following paradox: A mother who was employed in the public sector received maternity allowance for nine months, while if she was employed in the private sector she received maternity allowance for six months and if she was a farmer, self-employed or free professional, he was getting nothing. We changed these, with the aim of strengthening motherhood.

First, we increased the months from six to nine for the employed mother, and then extended the benefit to all mothers.

Last week, the platform was opened so that self-employed people can also get the maternity allowance for nine months, which is equal to the minimum wage, i.e. around 7,500 euros.

Single-parent families, women who have had a child through adoption or surrogate motherhood, as well as same-sex couples are also entitled to the benefit.

The right to maternity allowance is transferable to the father for seven months.

For example, if the mother’s salary or income is higher than the father’s, it is in the family’s best interests for the mother to return to work and for the father to receive the allowance.

If one includes the new increased birth allowance in the maternity allowance, we arrive at 1,100 euros net per month.

Since the main condition for receiving this benefit is insurance capacity, we believe that, in the near future, many mothers will rush to settle their debts in order to receive it too».

Also, the Minister of Labor added that, at the moment, in terms of “maternity” benefits, we are the second country in the OECD.

In response to a question regarding the retroactive Christmas, Easter and leave allowances (June 2015-May 2016), Mrs. Michailidou answered the following: “We are awaiting the decision of the Supreme Special Court, which is the only competent one, in order to decide. Therefore, whether or not they are given retroactively depends on the decision of the Supreme Special Court, which will be issued in the coming months.”

Regarding pensioners’ retroactive payments from pension recalculations, Mrs. Michaelidou noted that, from pension recalculations in various groups, EFKA, already in the last month, is giving retroactive payments to thousands of pensioners. “For example, two weeks ago, he gave 15 million euros to 1,100 pensioners of ISAP and 30 million euros to 6,500 pensioners of Olympiaki. At the end of the month, they will also be retroactively given to bank employees, as well as 1,200 pensioners who worked in former NPDDs,” said the Labor Minister.

Finally, regarding the six-day work, Mrs. Michailidou emphasized that this issue is presented in a one-sided and persuasive manner. As he explained, “the six-day work has been legislated since 2005 and applies exclusively to specific economic activities of continuous operation (eg refineries). The change, which was made and very correctly made, is to inform the ministry, through the “ERGANI II” Information System, about whether the employee is paid on Saturday with his salary increased by 40%, as stipulated by the legislation and, if it is not paid, the Labor Inspectorate should intervene and oblige the employer to pay the employee his earnings together with the fine for this violation».