South Africa: Constitutional Assembly Resources

20 January 1995




RE : MATERNITY BENEFITS




I am not sure on how this problem can be solved, but I would like to make you aware of some of the facts. I am speaking from experience, as I was employed by a company which provided the following "benefits!" on the birth of my child in September 1991.

1. Period of Maternity Leave

The companies standard was to provide only 3 months maternity leave. 1 month, by law has to be taken prior to the due date of the baby. The mother therefore only has 2 months with the baby after it's birth before she is due to return to work. At 2 months old the baby has surely not bonded properly with the parents and is probably still being breastfed. Minimal paternal rights should also be granted for the father to take time off to be with his child in certain circumstances. Should a mother have given birth to a premature baby, the child is normally hospitalised for a period of time which can sometimes be as much as 2 months. This could mean that the mother has only a short while with her baby

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at home before returning to work. I was fortunate enough (after much debate) to have been offered 6 months maternity leave by my company, which I felt was a fair amount of time to spend with my baby, and should be the norm for all companies.

· Payment of Maternity Benefits

During my confinement in 1991 due to the birth of my child, the following "benefits" were provided.

The company paid me 15% of my monthly income for a period of 3 months. I am aware of companies that do not pay their employees at all and they therefore have to claim the full 60% from the UIF maternity Fund.

I claimed 45% of my monthly income for a period of 6 months from the UIF Maternity Fund.

All Medical Aid Benefits and Pension Fund Benefits ceased during my confinement, unless I chose to pay a lump sum, up front to cover the payments of the above during the 6 months of confinement.

All leave ceased to accumulate during my confinement.

I was therefore required to exist for the first three months on 60% of my normal monthly income and the following three months on 45% of my normal monthly income. I was fortunate enough to have my husband's steady income during the 6 months, but what of single mothers who are trying to make ends meet on one income and who now have an extra mouth to feed?

3. Systems for Payment of UIF Maternity Benefits

On becoming pregnant, 1 fully investigated the UiF Maternity Benefits. I ascertained the following from both the Personnel department within my company and after many frustrating telephone calls to the Roodepoort Unemployment office.

I delivered (by hand) the necessary forms to the UIF office 1 month prior to the expected arrival date of my baby. The UIF office promptly lost the forms and I had to re-submit them.

On the birth of my baby I completed the necessary forms and submitted them to the UIF office with a copy of the babies birth certificate. Approximately six weeks later I received my first cheque which I had to collect from their offices in Roodepoort.

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Firstly, why does it take 2 and a half months to draw a cheque? For at least 2 months I had to exist on 15% of my monthly salary.

Secondly, surely a system can be put into place whereby a mother with a young baby does not have to visit the UIF office twice a month for the period of her confinement, once to collect her cheque and a second time to deliver a form which needs to be completed every month stating that you have not taken up any form of work which will supplement your income during the time from the last payment to the next payment the following month. Surely this can be completed on one form, once only and provided with the initial application for Maternity Benefits?

4. Re-employment after confinement

After my confinement I returned to work to find that my job had been given to my subordinate. After two days of deliberation, I was informed that a position had been made available for me within the same department but that it was only a half day position. I accepted as I would not have any form of income other than from the position offered. I worked in this position for 6 months. During the six months, I was not given any support from my superiors, I was left to my own devices during working hours and I was given absolutely nothing of substance to complete during working hours. I was therefore given a fictitious job title and was assigned a fictitious function. When I complained that I needed something more stimulating I was informed that, and I quote "your salary is in the budget each month, Mat you do with your time is up to you". Shortly after this incident I found myself another position, and resigned from the company. I had been employed by the company for a total of 7 years. This company is not small either, it has approximately 3000 people employed at it's head office alone. Legally, I had no reason for action as the company had in fact offered me a position and I eventually left of my own accord. Needless to say, the company made a very uncomfortable environment for me to work in.

I am also aware of another large organisation that actually makes you ".-“resign”" when you fall pregnant. By this I mean that they do not hold open your position or any other position for that matter and they do not pay you any salary or benefits for the period of confinement. They say that they will however endeavour to find you a suitable position on your return, which is a way of covering themselves legally but most of the time they are "unable" to find you a suitable position.

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· Conclusion

In conclusion on this matter

5.1 A longer period of maternity leave should be debated.

5.2 Better Maternity benefits on behalf of the Employer should be debated.

5.3 Better UIF Maternity payout systems should be put into place.

5.4 A brochure/pamphlet should be made available laying out the procedure for applying for maternity benefits.

5.5 Jobs should be secured whilst on Maternity leave, after all without women where would the population be?

It would really be appreciated if this issue could be debated and some sort of decision reached as I feel very strongly on this matter and I feel most women are being discriminated against in this regard.







T M BROCK (MRS)