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In Switzerland, expectant mothers have to work until they give birth. Now the city of Lucerne would like to let its employees go on vacation three weeks before the deadline. Holidays for expectant mothers are also a national issue.
Maria Pilotto had submitted a postulate for this concern on behalf of the SP parliamentary group.
Maria Pilotto
According to the Mayor of Lucerne, Beat Züsli (SP), there are still various questions to be clarified in the implementation.
Facebook/Beat Züsli
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In the city of Lucerne, the postulate of the SP faction “Pregnancy leave for expectant mothers” was transferred on Thursday.
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The mayor is also in favor of mothers-to-be who work for the city receiving three weeks of additional vacation before giving birth.
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A corresponding motion by Flavia Wasserfallen (SP) is pending in the National Council.
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However, the Federal Council recommends that this proposal be rejected.
Employees of the administration of the city of Lucerne should get a further three weeks of vacation in addition to the 16 weeks of maternity leave. This additional maternity leave is intended for the time before the confinement. A corresponding postulate submitted by Maria Pilotto on behalf of the SP parliamentary group was approved by the city parliament on Thursday. The SVP and the FDP spoke out once morest it. The additional maternity protection speaks according to the Postulate the SP that 70 percent of expectant mothers are on sick leave two weeks before the birth. The SP refers to a report by the Federal Council from 2018. “This shows that the expectation that women should work until childbirth is unsustainable in terms of health and does not correspond to reality,” the SP continues in its proposal.
The SP also sees advantages for the city of Lucerne: “A clear solution for a holiday before the birth would also be easier for the employer city of Lucerne and the city-owned companies and increases planning security.” Another plus is that the city can offer attractive and contemporary working conditions.
The additional maternity leave would cost Switzerland 200 million
The postulate is also of interest to the city government, as Mayor Beat Züsli (SP) said at the request of the “Daily Gazette” confirmed. There are still a number of questions that need to be answered in terms of implementation. Züsli considers an introduction at the beginning of 2023 to be realistic. Züsli also said, according to the article, that it would be welcome if this additional maternity leave for working women were expanded nationally.
A motion by Flavia Wasserfallen (SP) is pending in the National Council. The Federal Council recommends that Wasserfallen’s initiative be rejected for various reasons. According to the Federal Council, the additional maternity leave would cost CHF 200 million per year. The employers’ association also says no to the expansion. Switzerland is the only country in Europe that does not yet have maternity protection before birth.
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