Maternity protection demanded for self-employed female craftspeople

The German government announced in its coalition agreement that maternity protection would be analogous to the regulations for employees. However, this has not yet been implemented.

This article is part of the special feature on women in the trades.

Specifically, the German government has announced an examination of pay-as-you-go or other suitable financing models for such maternity protection. Furthermore, concepts for the financial security of affected businesses are to be developed jointly with the insurance industry . However, the mandatory introduction of maternity protection for the self-employed is still pending.

Maternity protection for the self-employed: Tradespeople urge the federal government

The federal government's initiative is due in no small part to public pressure from the " Alliance for Maternity Protection for the Self-Employed ," which originated primarily within the skilled trades sector. The driving force behind this alliance is the self-employed master carpenter Johanna Röh . This woman from Lower Saxony had to continue working on construction sites while heavily pregnant to ensure the survival of her workshop.

An experience she shares with many other women in the trades. In a 2023 survey, one in four respondents stated that they were hesitant to start a self-employed business due to current maternity leave regulations . 13,5 percent of respondents considered giving up self-employment because of their desire to have children, and 35 percent wanted to forgo having more children after experiencing pregnancy while self-employed.

Strengthen maternity protection for self-employed female craftspeople

Katharina During , owner of the Cottbus hair salon " KaDee-Friseure ," has also experienced firsthand how little protection self-employed female tradespeople have during pregnancy. " Maternity leave must not become a matter of survival for self-employed women ," she demands. Her first child was born while she was still employed. In 2015, the master hairdresser became self-employed. The desire for another child was therefore put on hold. "I first had to build up my business, find employees I could entrust with the salon during a pregnancy," Katharina During explains. Nevertheless, she worked until four weeks before the birth of her second child in 2018. During says that in a hair salon, the workplace can be designed in such a way that this is possible. But this is far from the case in every trade.

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"My pregnancies were thankfully uncomplicated," recalls the Cottbus resident. " But if complications arise during pregnancy and the doctor prohibits work, self-employed women need to be financially secure during this time off ," says During. She herself had to return to work earlier than planned after the birth of her third child, who arrived during the COVID-19 pandemic, because her employees were out sick. She hadn't necessarily realized beforehand how challenging it is to combine self-employment and motherhood in the trades. "It can cause sleepless nights," she knows now. Katharina During's husband stepped in to help with childcare after the birth.

Paid maternity leave demanded for self-employed female craftspeople

For single mothers, the unequal treatment of self-employed female tradespeople regarding maternity leave can quickly lead to their downfall, as master saddler Karolin Werkmeister from Schwedt knows. She successfully managed the double burden of work and being a single mother . Werkmeister primarily demands paid maternity leave and compensation payments for the period during which a self-employed female tradesperson is unable to work due to pregnancy. Katharina During shares this view. Women in the trades should not be penalized for their decision to become self-employed by the unequal treatment regarding maternity leave.

This position has received support from Brandenburg politicians. Nadine Graßmel, family and social policy spokesperson for the SPD parliamentary group, expressly backs the federal government's proposal. "It is a matter of fairness that self-employed women receive the same health protection and reliable financial security during pregnancy and childbirth as employed women. Especially in the skilled trades, we see many dedicated female entrepreneurs who bear responsibility for their businesses, their employees, and their families. The fact that they currently have no legal entitlement to maternity leave is outdated. For us, it's clear: those who take on responsibility should not be left alone when starting a family."

The Ministry of Health and Social Affairs of the State of Brandenburg has so far received no "information on the content, design, timetable or implementation status of any potential regulatory projects of the Federal Government in this regard."

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