On 19 September at the Bundestag during the public hearing for the draft law modernizing the law on maternity protection (Mutterschutzgesetz) both the Confederation of German Trade Unions and the German Employers Federation (BDA) have called on the government to review the text. Whilst welcoming the many advances that the draft law brings, the DGB has however been particularly critical of the relaxation of the ban over pregnant females working during the evenings and on public holidays. As for the BDA, employers believe the ‘risk analysis’ that companies will have to undertake is adding too much red tape and will hold back employment. These criticisms should now be taken on board as part of the legislative process prior to the draft law’s second and third readings at the Bundestag. The new law is expected to come into force on 01 January 2017.
A 1952 law. On 04 May 2016, during adoption of the draft law reforming the law on maternity protection, Manuela Schwesig (SPD), the German Minister for Families, the Elderly, Women and Youths, recalled that the current law dates back to 1952 and that the world of work has changed considerably since then. Many women now hold positions in what were formerly exclusively male domains. Furthermore, many jobs formerly considered ‘dangerous’ are carried out via computer. “The current law is outdated.
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