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 topic women in crafts

Specifically, the Federal government An examination of pay-as-you-go or other suitable financing models for such maternity protection has been announced. Furthermore, joint efforts are planned with the insurance industry. Concepts are being developed to provide financial security for the affected businesses.However, a legally binding 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, not least, to public pressure from the "Alliance for Maternity Protection for the Self-Employed"This is owed to what essentially originated from the craft sector. The driving force behind this alliance is the independent..." Master carpenter Johanna Röh. The woman from Lower Saxony, a self-employed craftswoman, had to work on the construction site while heavily pregnant in order to secure the continued existence of her workshop..

An experience she shares with many other women in the trades. In a 2023 survey, one in four respondents stated that Due to current maternity protection regulations, it is advisable to hesitate before starting self-employment.13,5 percent of respondents considered giving up self-employment because of their desire to have children, and 35 percent wanted to forgo having further children due to the experience of pregnancy while self-employed.

Strengthen maternity protection for self-employed female craftspeople

Non-personal or anonymized information remains protected by tax secrecy. Disclosure to third parties is only allowed if no identification is possible and both states confirm that no harm to tax administration will occur. Katharina During, owner of the Cottbus hair salon "KaDee hairdressers"has painfully experienced how little protection self-employed female craftspeople 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 that's far from being the case in every trade.

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"My pregnancies were thankfully uncomplicated," recalls the woman from Cottbus.However, if complications arise during pregnancy and the doctor prohibits employment, self-employed women must be insured during this period of absence."That's how it is," says During. She herself had to return to work earlier than planned after the birth of her third child, who arrived during the Corona 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, however, the unequal treatment of self-employed female tradespeople regarding maternity protection can quickly lead to their downfall, as is well known. Saddler Karolin Werkmeister from Schwedt. She mastered the double burden of career and being a single mother.Werkmeister is primarily demanding paid maternity leave and compensation payments for the period during which a self-employed female craftswoman 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. not be penalized by unequal treatment in maternity protection.

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 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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