Ways of increasing the generosity of family-related leaves in Georgia
Abstract
Since January 2023, the upper threshold of the allowance for maternity, parental and adoption leaves has doubled from 1000 GEL to 2000 GEL. The Labour Code of Georgia does not offer paternity leave (taken by fathers), which is provided in EU countries. In public service, the allowance amounts to the full salary of the civil servant. Such a large gap between civil service and the rest of organizations/institutions is not a fair approach. To improve the health and socio-economic conditions of families with a child, it is essential to significantly increase the generosity of the allowance for family-related leaves (maternity, paternity and parental leave) in the private sector. The review of academic literature showed a positive relationship between the increase in maternity/parental leave length/remuneration and improvements in the mental and physical health of mother and child. The study found that the significant increase in maternity benefit rate, as well as an increase in parental benefit and an introduction of paternity leave/benefit, is financially feasible, given the recent economic growth rate in Georgia and its projected growth for the coming years.References
1. Amendments to the Labour Code of Georgia, the Legislative Herald of Georgia (September 27, 2013).
2. Amendments to the Labour Code of Georgia, the Legislative Herald of Georgia (September 29, 2020).
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6. Berger, L. M., Hill, J., & Waldfogel, J. (2005). Maternity leave, early maternal employment and child health and development in the US. The Economic Journal, 115(501), F29-F47.
7. Boyer, D., & Fagnani, J. (2022). France country note. In A. Koslowski, S. Blum, I. Dobrotić, G. Kaufman, & P. Moss, International Review of Leave Policies and Related Research 2022. Retrieved from https://www.leavenetwork.org/annual-review-reports/review-2022/
8. Directive (EU) 2019/1158 on work-life balance for parents and carers (the European Parliament and the Council June 20, 2019).
9. Directive 2010/41/EU on equal treatment between self-employed men and women (the European Parliament and the Council July 7, 2010).
10. Duvander, A.-Z., & Lofgren, N. (2022). Sweden country note. In A. Koslowski, S. Blum, I. Dobrotić, G. Kaufman, & P. Moss, International Review of Leave Policies and Research 2022. Retrieved from https://www.leavenetwork.org/annual-review-reports/review-2022/
11. Estonian Social Insurance Board. (2023). Maternity benefits and leave. Retrieved from https://www.eesti.ee/en/family/benefits-and-allowances/maternity-benefits-and-leave#maternity-benefit-and-maternity-leave
12. European Committee of Social Rights. (2015). Statements of interpretation. 2015_163_02/EN. Retrieved from https://hudoc.esc.coe.int/eng/?i=2015_163_02/EN
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17. Gotcheva, B. (2019). Maternity, paternity and parental leaves in Europe: Comparison of family-related leave policies and key legal provisions with implications for Kosovo. World Bank Group. doi:https://doi.org/10.1596/34956
18. Hawkins, S. S. et al. (2007). The impact of maternal employment on breast-feeding duration in the UK Millennium Cohort Study. Public health nutrition, 10(9), 891-896.
19. Heymann, J., Raub, A., & Earle, A. (2011). Creating and using new data sources to analyze the relationship between social policy and global health: the case of maternal leave. Public Health Reports, 126(3_suppl), 127-134.
20. Kashakashvili, N. (2017). dedobis, mamobis da mšoblis švebulebis upleba tanasc’orobis šukze [Right for maternity, paternity and parental leave in light of equality]. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center, Tbilisi. Retrieved from https://socialjustice.org.ge/ka/products/kvleva-dedobis-mamobis-da-mshoblis-shvebulebis-ufleba-tanastsorobis-shukze#
21. Kern, V., & Lecerf, M. (2023). Maternity and paternity leave in the EU. European Parliamentary Research Service.
22. Khan, M. S. (2020). Paid family leave and children health outcomes in OECD countries. Children and youth services review, 116. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105259
23. Kocourkova, J. (2022). Czech Republic country note. In A. Koslowski, S. Blum, I. Dobrotić, G. Kaufman, & P. Moss, International Review of Leave Policies and Related Research 2022. Retrieved from https://www.leavenetwork.org/annual-review-reports/review-2022/
24. Koslowski, A., Blum, S., Dobrotić, I., Kaufman, G., & Moss, P. (2022). 18th International Review of Leave Policies and Related Research 2022. Retrieved from https://www.leavenetwork.org/annual-review-reports/review-2022/
25. Kurowska, A., Godlewska-Bujok, B., & Michon, P. (2022). Poland country note. In A. Koslowski, S. Blum, I. Dobrotić, G. Kaufman, & P. Moss, International Review of Leave Policies and Research 2022. Retrieved from https://www.leavenetwork.org/annual-review-reports/review-2022/
26. Law of Georgia on Public Service, the Legislative Herald of Georgia (October 27, 2015).
27. Maternity Protection Convention, 183 (ILO 2000).
28. Ministry of Finance of Georgia. (2023). kveq’nis ӡiritadi monacemebi da mimartulebebi 2024-27 c’lebisatvis [Basic Data and Directions Document for 2024-27]. Retrieved from https://www.mof.ge/5653
29. Moltubak, J. (2022, August 2). More cash for Dutch parents: 9 weeks of paid parental leave guaranteed. DutchReview. Retrieved from https://dutchreview.com/news/more-cash-dutch-parents-9-weeks-of-paid-parental-leave/
30. Nandi, A. et al. (2018). The impact of parental and medical leave policies on socioeconomic and health outcomes in OECD countries: a systematic review of the empirical literature. The Milbank Quarterly, 96(3), 434-471. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6131347/
31. Navarro-Rosenblatt, D., & Garmendia, M. L. (2018). Maternity leave and its impact on breastfeeding: a review of the literature. Breastfeeding Medicine, 13(9), 589-597.
32. Netherlands Enterprise Agency. (2023). Maternity allowance for self-employed professionals. Retrieved from https://business.gov.nl/regulation/prenatal-and-childbirth-allowance-self-employed-professionals/
33. OECD. (2021). OECD Family Database. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/els/family/database.htm
34. Pall, K. (2022). Estonia country note. In A. Koslowski, S. Blum, I. Dobrotić, G. Kaufman, & P. Moss, International Review of Leave Policies and Research 2022. Retrieved from https://www.leavenetwork.org/annual-review-reports/review-2022/
35. Ruhm, C. J. (2000). Parental leave and child health. Journal of health economics, 19(6), 931-960.
36. Schulze, E., & Gergoric, M. (2015). Maternity, paternity and parental leave: Data related to duration and compensation rates in the European Union. European Parliament, FEMM committee. Brussels: European Union.
37. Shim, J. (2016). Family leave policy and child mortality: Evidence from 19 OECD countries from 1969 to 2010. International Journal of Social Welfare, 25(3), 215-221.
38. Skafida, V. (2012). Juggling work and motherhood: the impact of employment and maternity leave on breastfeeding duration: a survival analysis on Growing Up in Scotland data. Maternal and child health Journal, 16(2), 519-527.
39. Social Security Administration. (2018). Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Europe, 2018. Retrieved from The United States Social Security Administration: https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/progdesc/ssptw/2018-2019/europe/index.html
40. Social Service Agency. (2023). Statistics. Retrieved from https://ssa.moh.gov.ge/statistik.php?lang=1&id=202212070002225855299551&v=0
41. Strang, L., & Broeks, M. (2017). Maternity leave policies: trade-offs between labour market demands and health benefits for children. Rand Health Quarterly, 6(4). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5627638/
42. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. (2023). Regional Economic Prospects in the EBRD Regions. London: EBRD.
43. Trading Economics. (2023). GDP per capita. World. Retrieved from https://tradingeconomics.com/country-list/gdp-per-capita?continent=world
44. Urotadze, J. (2018). Pension Policy of Georgia and International Experience. Tbilisi: Publishing of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.
45. Van Niel, M. S. et al. (2020). The impact of paid maternity leave on the mental and physical health of mothers and children: a review of the literature and policy implications. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 28(2), 113-126.
46. Winegarden, C. R., & Bracy, P. M. (1995). Demographic consequences of maternal-leave programs in industrial countries: evidence from fixed-effects models. Southern Economic Journal, 1020-1035.
2. Amendments to the Labour Code of Georgia, the Legislative Herald of Georgia (September 29, 2020).
3. Asian Development Bank. (2023). Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2023. Metro Manila: Asian Development Bank. Retrieved from https://dx.doi.org/10.22617/FLS230112-3
4. Avendano, M. et al. (2015). The long-run effect of maternity leave benefits on mental health: evidence from European countries. Social Science & Medicine, 132, 45-53.
5. Babych, Y., Mzhavanadze, G., & Keshelava, D. (2021). Regulatory Impact Assessment of ILO C183 - Maternity Protection Convention. UN Women. Retrieved from https://georgia.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2021/05/regulatory-impact-assessment-of-ilo-c183---maternity-protection-convention
6. Berger, L. M., Hill, J., & Waldfogel, J. (2005). Maternity leave, early maternal employment and child health and development in the US. The Economic Journal, 115(501), F29-F47.
7. Boyer, D., & Fagnani, J. (2022). France country note. In A. Koslowski, S. Blum, I. Dobrotić, G. Kaufman, & P. Moss, International Review of Leave Policies and Related Research 2022. Retrieved from https://www.leavenetwork.org/annual-review-reports/review-2022/
8. Directive (EU) 2019/1158 on work-life balance for parents and carers (the European Parliament and the Council June 20, 2019).
9. Directive 2010/41/EU on equal treatment between self-employed men and women (the European Parliament and the Council July 7, 2010).
10. Duvander, A.-Z., & Lofgren, N. (2022). Sweden country note. In A. Koslowski, S. Blum, I. Dobrotić, G. Kaufman, & P. Moss, International Review of Leave Policies and Research 2022. Retrieved from https://www.leavenetwork.org/annual-review-reports/review-2022/
11. Estonian Social Insurance Board. (2023). Maternity benefits and leave. Retrieved from https://www.eesti.ee/en/family/benefits-and-allowances/maternity-benefits-and-leave#maternity-benefit-and-maternity-leave
12. European Committee of Social Rights. (2015). Statements of interpretation. 2015_163_02/EN. Retrieved from https://hudoc.esc.coe.int/eng/?i=2015_163_02/EN
13. Geostat. (2023a). Poverty and Gini Coefficients. Retrieved from https://www.geostat.ge/en/modules/categories/192/living-conditions
14. Geostat. (2023b). Population. Retrieved from https://www.geostat.ge/en/modules/categories/41/population
15. Geostat. (2023c). Subsistence Minimum. Retrieved from https://www.geostat.ge/en/modules/categories/791/subsistence-minimum
16. Geostat. (2023d). Employment and Unemployment. Retrieved from https://www.geostat.ge/en/modules/categories/683/Employment-Unemployment
17. Gotcheva, B. (2019). Maternity, paternity and parental leaves in Europe: Comparison of family-related leave policies and key legal provisions with implications for Kosovo. World Bank Group. doi:https://doi.org/10.1596/34956
18. Hawkins, S. S. et al. (2007). The impact of maternal employment on breast-feeding duration in the UK Millennium Cohort Study. Public health nutrition, 10(9), 891-896.
19. Heymann, J., Raub, A., & Earle, A. (2011). Creating and using new data sources to analyze the relationship between social policy and global health: the case of maternal leave. Public Health Reports, 126(3_suppl), 127-134.
20. Kashakashvili, N. (2017). dedobis, mamobis da mšoblis švebulebis upleba tanasc’orobis šukze [Right for maternity, paternity and parental leave in light of equality]. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center, Tbilisi. Retrieved from https://socialjustice.org.ge/ka/products/kvleva-dedobis-mamobis-da-mshoblis-shvebulebis-ufleba-tanastsorobis-shukze#
21. Kern, V., & Lecerf, M. (2023). Maternity and paternity leave in the EU. European Parliamentary Research Service.
22. Khan, M. S. (2020). Paid family leave and children health outcomes in OECD countries. Children and youth services review, 116. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105259
23. Kocourkova, J. (2022). Czech Republic country note. In A. Koslowski, S. Blum, I. Dobrotić, G. Kaufman, & P. Moss, International Review of Leave Policies and Related Research 2022. Retrieved from https://www.leavenetwork.org/annual-review-reports/review-2022/
24. Koslowski, A., Blum, S., Dobrotić, I., Kaufman, G., & Moss, P. (2022). 18th International Review of Leave Policies and Related Research 2022. Retrieved from https://www.leavenetwork.org/annual-review-reports/review-2022/
25. Kurowska, A., Godlewska-Bujok, B., & Michon, P. (2022). Poland country note. In A. Koslowski, S. Blum, I. Dobrotić, G. Kaufman, & P. Moss, International Review of Leave Policies and Research 2022. Retrieved from https://www.leavenetwork.org/annual-review-reports/review-2022/
26. Law of Georgia on Public Service, the Legislative Herald of Georgia (October 27, 2015).
27. Maternity Protection Convention, 183 (ILO 2000).
28. Ministry of Finance of Georgia. (2023). kveq’nis ӡiritadi monacemebi da mimartulebebi 2024-27 c’lebisatvis [Basic Data and Directions Document for 2024-27]. Retrieved from https://www.mof.ge/5653
29. Moltubak, J. (2022, August 2). More cash for Dutch parents: 9 weeks of paid parental leave guaranteed. DutchReview. Retrieved from https://dutchreview.com/news/more-cash-dutch-parents-9-weeks-of-paid-parental-leave/
30. Nandi, A. et al. (2018). The impact of parental and medical leave policies on socioeconomic and health outcomes in OECD countries: a systematic review of the empirical literature. The Milbank Quarterly, 96(3), 434-471. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6131347/
31. Navarro-Rosenblatt, D., & Garmendia, M. L. (2018). Maternity leave and its impact on breastfeeding: a review of the literature. Breastfeeding Medicine, 13(9), 589-597.
32. Netherlands Enterprise Agency. (2023). Maternity allowance for self-employed professionals. Retrieved from https://business.gov.nl/regulation/prenatal-and-childbirth-allowance-self-employed-professionals/
33. OECD. (2021). OECD Family Database. Retrieved from https://www.oecd.org/els/family/database.htm
34. Pall, K. (2022). Estonia country note. In A. Koslowski, S. Blum, I. Dobrotić, G. Kaufman, & P. Moss, International Review of Leave Policies and Research 2022. Retrieved from https://www.leavenetwork.org/annual-review-reports/review-2022/
35. Ruhm, C. J. (2000). Parental leave and child health. Journal of health economics, 19(6), 931-960.
36. Schulze, E., & Gergoric, M. (2015). Maternity, paternity and parental leave: Data related to duration and compensation rates in the European Union. European Parliament, FEMM committee. Brussels: European Union.
37. Shim, J. (2016). Family leave policy and child mortality: Evidence from 19 OECD countries from 1969 to 2010. International Journal of Social Welfare, 25(3), 215-221.
38. Skafida, V. (2012). Juggling work and motherhood: the impact of employment and maternity leave on breastfeeding duration: a survival analysis on Growing Up in Scotland data. Maternal and child health Journal, 16(2), 519-527.
39. Social Security Administration. (2018). Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Europe, 2018. Retrieved from The United States Social Security Administration: https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/progdesc/ssptw/2018-2019/europe/index.html
40. Social Service Agency. (2023). Statistics. Retrieved from https://ssa.moh.gov.ge/statistik.php?lang=1&id=202212070002225855299551&v=0
41. Strang, L., & Broeks, M. (2017). Maternity leave policies: trade-offs between labour market demands and health benefits for children. Rand Health Quarterly, 6(4). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5627638/
42. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. (2023). Regional Economic Prospects in the EBRD Regions. London: EBRD.
43. Trading Economics. (2023). GDP per capita. World. Retrieved from https://tradingeconomics.com/country-list/gdp-per-capita?continent=world
44. Urotadze, J. (2018). Pension Policy of Georgia and International Experience. Tbilisi: Publishing of Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University.
45. Van Niel, M. S. et al. (2020). The impact of paid maternity leave on the mental and physical health of mothers and children: a review of the literature and policy implications. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 28(2), 113-126.
46. Winegarden, C. R., & Bracy, P. M. (1995). Demographic consequences of maternal-leave programs in industrial countries: evidence from fixed-effects models. Southern Economic Journal, 1020-1035.
Published
2023-12-20
How to Cite
UROTADZE, Jaba.
Ways of increasing the generosity of family-related leaves in Georgia.
Eastern Europe Regional Studies, [S.l.], dec. 2023.
ISSN 2587-456X.
Available at: <https://test.psage.tsu.ge/index.php/Easternstudies/article/view/362>. Date accessed: 24 dec. 2024.
Issue
Section
Articles
Keywords
work-life balance, maternity leave, parental leave, paternity leave, labour rights.
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