Verkhovna Rada adopted the Law

Inclusion of maternity leave to look after a child under 3 years into women's pensionable service is another step towards strengthening their social protection. The Verkhovna Rada passed a law designed by Ministry of Social Policy that strengthens social protection of women, the Minister of Social Policy Natalia Korolevska commented on the Parliament's adoption of the law, the agency’s press-service informs.

Adopted law developed by our Ministry, will allow counting the maternity leave into insurance period when calculating «sickness» payments. This way women raising young children have received another guarantee of social protection», she said.

As Korolevska explained, before a woman on leave to care for a child with almost 5 years of insurance period, for 3 years could expect to be paid at a rate only 60% of the average salary when going on a sick leave. The adopted law envisages inclusion of the period for child care into insurance period (in this case - to the five years another three will be added), which will automatically entail payment of sickness benefits in the amount of 100% of the average wage.

The Minister reminded that from 1 July in Ukraine insurance period used to calculate pension benefits, includes period of maternity leave to look after a child under 3 years.

Korolevska noted that the Ministry of Social Policy continues to work on strengthening the social protection of women on maternity leave or going back to work. In particular, currently a package of proposals is being developed on return to employment for women with young children, she announced.