Staggered Maternity Leave After Miscarriage Remains a Topic

The Social Democrats see the German opt-out model as an instrument to shorten the statutory protection periods. The NEOS even fear restrictions on the legal termination of pregnancy.

Plakolm for Staggering

A few weeks ago, Plakolm took up demands from "Sternenkinder" organizations, which advocate for those who have lost a child during pregnancy. Instead of miscarriage or stillbirth, they speak of "pregnancy loss." In this case, maternity leave is demanded from the completed 13th week of pregnancy, as well as better midwife care and adjusted protection against dismissal for affected women.

The ÖVP minister supports this and speaks of security and freedom of choice. She wants a staggering, through which a possible protection period becomes longer as the pregnancy progresses.

SPÖ Reacts Negatively

The SPÖ reacted negatively to the "Krone" on Friday, as they generally advocate for strengthening women's rights, including in this matter. In union circles, there are labor law concerns about the German model. There, the entitlement to leave depends on the timing of the pregnancy loss. And: Women who want to return to work earlier are allowed to do so through an "opt-out option."

This point is viewed with skepticism by the red ranks. The current model, which allows women to go on sick leave, offers a legally safer basis, according to the SPÖ.

The criticism from the NEOS comes from a different direction. Their women's spokesperson Henrike Brandstötter fears a salami tactic to abolish the time limit solution, i.e., the regulation for legal termination of pregnancy. "Because exactly at the limit where a termination of pregnancy is still legally possible in Austria, namely up to the 12th week, maternity leave should now suddenly apply from the 13th week. This shifts the previous, very clear dividing line between self-determination on one side and state intervention on the other," she said to the Ö1 "Mittagsjournal".

(APA/Red)

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