Maternity benefit system likely to face significant changes

The maternity benefit system will probably be changed during this governing cycle, writes Népszava. Although concrete proposals are as yet unknown, one of the ideas elaborated on is that the benefits received over three years could be condensed into two years and disbursed in larger monthly amounts.

The Social and Labor Ministry is evaluating the proposals. Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsány supports the modifications, and has said that maternity benefits have to be preserved, more nurseries and kindergartens are needed, and subsidies should be made more freely available.

A recent poll found that 69% of mothers with small children and 60% of the population as a whole agree with the modification plan. On the other hand, most of the respondents did not think it would encourage mothers to have more children and return to their jobs earlier.

Ágnes Hárs, leading researcher of economic research company Kopint-Tárki Zrt., disagreed, saying that reducing the three years to two could significantly improve the employment of women, an ongoing problem in Hungary.

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