Maternity allowance: In the following period the activation of the platform for selfemployed persons

Within the next period, its platform is expected to be activated to pay to non-employed persons (free professionals, self-employed and rural women). In particular, the maternity allowance paid by the Public Employment Service (PSI) to beneficiaries monthly will be equal to the applicable minimum wage for nine months after checking the insurance information. In fact, retroactive effect is foreseen, as the special provision of maternity protection is entitled to all mothers having a child up to 14 weeks before the end of 2023 and, in particular, from 24 September 2023 onwards. With the extension of the maternity allowance of DYPA and in this category of insured persons, which is part of a network of actions implemented by the government to support the family, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security aims to equal the benefits for all insured persons. A further objective is reconciliation between family and working life, which also contributes to tackling the demographic problem. It is recalled that, by Law 4997/2022, the time-limit for the protection of motherhood and for private sector employees was introduced, in proportion to the special leave of upbringing for mothers working in the State. In other words, the duration of the special maternity protection permit was increased from six to nine months for mothers insured in the e-EFCA (e.g. IKA-FAM), who work as wage earners with a fixed or indefinite working relationship in private sector enterprises or holdings. In particular, the mother insured for the e-EFKA, a freelancer, self-employed and a farmer, is entitled to special protection of maternity during nine months, which starts after payment of the maternity allowance for e-EFKA. In particular, in the case of adoption, payment of the special maternity protection benefit shall be initiated from the day following the final judgment of the adoption court, regardless of whether the beneficiary received a lotus allowance from the e-EFKA. The special provision for the protection of the motherhood of non-employed persons shall also be entitled to the presumed mother referred to in Article 1464 of the Civil Code, who shall have a child under the procedure of surrogate motherhood and the selfemployed person who adopts a child from the child’s integration into the family up to the age of eight. The mother is entitled to transfer up to seven months from the special provision of protection of motherhood to the father, whether he is working in a private-law dependent relationship or is a freelancer or self-employed or farmer. For as long as the father receives the permission that the mother has transferred to him, he shall be entitled to the benefits provided for, provided that he is aware of the insurance. Where the father works in a relationship with dependent private-law employment, he shall receive, in addition to the special protection of motherhood, a proportion of holiday gifts and leave allowance and shall be insured under the insurance scheme to which he belongs. In particular, the time of the special maternity protection permit shall be considered as insurance time in the main pension and sickness sectors of the e-EFCA, as well as in the relevant ancillary insurance institutions, and the contributions provided for shall be calculated on the minimum wage concerned, from which the IMIPA shall retain the intended contribution of an insured person and shall attribute it to the competent bodies, together with the intended employer contribution to the IMIPA. In the event of the acquisition of a child by same-sex spouses, the beneficiary of the special parent benefit shall be determined by a joint declaration of the spouses to the Electronic National Social Security Institution. In such a case, the beneficiary parent shall be entitled to transfer up to seven months from the special provision to the other parent, whether he works in a private-law dependent relationship or is a freelance or self-employed or farmer. It is noted that the provision is tax-free, inexplicable and irrevocable, in the hands of the State or third parties, by way of derogation from any other provisions contrary to this provision, it is not bound and is not offset by established debts to the tax administration and the State in general, legal persons governed by public law, local authorities and their legal persons, insurance funds or credit institutions, is not calculated on the income limits for the payment of any social or welfare benefits and is not subject to any charge, contribution or other reservation in favour of the State or the e-EFKA. Source: RES – ICM