Karlsruhe woman's prolonged fight successful: new maternity legislation takes effect
A Joyous Holiday on June 1st for Natascha Sagorski, and Many Others like Her - It's National Maternity Protection Day.
That's right, starting June 1st, plenty of women in Germany are taking a well-deserved break - and not just because it's a Sunday. It's a national holiday for women across the nation: On this date, the revised Maternity Protection Act takes effect.
This new legislation grants maternity protection to women who suffer a miscarriage at the 13th week of pregnancy. Previously, this was only offered from the 24th week of pregnancy.
A Victory for Natascha Sagorski and Her Fight
You may wonder who flipped the switch on this change? Well, it's all thanks to Natascha Sagorski, a 40-year-old woman from Karlsruhe who herself experienced a miscarriage. She kicked off a legislative battle over three years ago, petitioning for a change in the law. Sagorski never backed down, even quitting her job in the process.
On the night of January 30th of this year, the Bundestag gave its approval to the "Maternity Protection Adjustment Act" and applauded Sagorski for her efforts.
Saying Thanks, By the Book
Feeling a mix of "great relief," "unbelievable exhaustion," and "great surprise," Sagorski shared her emotions with our editorial team following the vote. On that evening, Bundestag Vice-President Aydan Özoguz herself took the stage, expressing gratitude to Sagorski:
"Dear Mrs. Sagorski, on behalf of the entire House, I would like to thank you for your initiative. And many women will benefit from the fact that you had the courage to initiate this."
Here's to You, February 14th
While the new law was teetering on the brink due to the fall of the Traffic Light government and the controversial "Immigration Control Act" controversy, it went unnoticed.
Fittingly enough, the Bundesrat endorsed the new law on February 14th - a special date for Sagorski and her family. As they mourn the loss of a child who should have been born on February 14th, the passage of this law marks a healing step forward.
A Staggered Claim to Maternity Protection
Under the revised legislation, maternity protection for women who experience a miscarriage will be granted in stages:- From the 13th week of pregnancy, two weeks of maternity leave- From the 17th week of pregnancy, six weeks of maternity leave- From the 20th week of pregnancy, eight weeks of maternity leaveEmployers will be fully reimbursed for maternity pay during the leave period[1][2][4]. This new policy aims to provide vital support for women after a miscarriage, addressing both emotional and physical recovery needs.
- The victory in extending maternity protection to women experiencing miscarriages at the 13th week of pregnancy is a result of Natascha Sagorski's relentless three-year-long legislative fight.
- Sagorski's efforts, including quitting her job, led to the approval of the "Maternity Protection Adjustment Act" by the Bundestag, bringing a significant change in women's health-and-wellness policy-and-legislation.
- The new legislation, which takes effect on June 1st, also affects other areas of science and policy, such as general-news and mental-health, as it addresses the emotional recovery needs of women after a miscarriage.
- The passing of this law, which was endorsed on February 14th, not only marks a healing step forward for Sagorski and her family who lost a child on that date but also demonstrates the power of politics, enabling a change in law for the betterment of many women's lives.
