Bosnian Women Demand Equal Maternity Benefits

A group of Bosnian NGOs have started a campaign called "(Non)Discrimination of Women who have just given birth in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina".

They want the adoption of a law standardising maternity benefits in the entity and establishing a fund for them.

In the Federation entity, the economic treatment of women on maternity leave differs in all ten cantons that make up its territory, Indira Mujic, the spokesperson of Zene Zenama [Women to Women], one of the organisations coordinating the campaign, told BIRN.

"Current legislation creates a situation whereby maternity benefits differ from canton to canton", Mujic told BIRN on Wednesday, noting that it creates a discriminatory situation for women and their children.

Under existing regulations, for instance, a working mother of a new born baby in Sarajevo will get a benefit equal to 60 per cent of the average salary in the canton, around 650 KM [?331]).

However, in the western Canton of Una Sana the amount is equal to 50 per cent of her average salary earned in the previous six months.

In some other cantons, like the Herzegovina Neretva Canton, there is no maternity benefit at all for mothers of newborn babies.

The differences in allowances, Mujic warns, varies also if the mother is employed or unemployed, and is smaller in the latter case.

In the Canton of Sarajevo, an unemployed mother is entitled to only 20 per cent of the average salary in the Canton, which means around 120 KM [?61]).

The campaign has been joined by women's association from various cities of the Federation, which have organised debates and launched a petition seeking the approval of a new law on maternity benefits.

"We will meet with members of the parliament of the...