AG Maternity Protection

Pregnancy is not an illness. Even though it does not automatically impair the performance of the expectant mother, special protective regulations apply to pregnant employees.

The Bremen Central Office for the Realization of Equal Rights for Women (ZGF) and the Bremen Chamber of Employees founded the Statewide Working Group on Maternity Protection in 2012. It advocates for the effective implementation of maternity protection in companies in Bremen and Bremerhaven.

Employers must utilize the legal frameworks for workplace safety and maternity protection. This is the only way to reconcile pregnancy, maternity leave, and employment. The vast majority of women are very interested in continuing their employment during pregnancy.

Pregnant employees have a right to acceptable working conditions

Safe and healthy working conditions enable pregnant or breastfeeding employees to minimize interruptions to their professional lives. Instead of prematurely and unnecessarily suspending them from work, work processes or responsibilities within the company may only need to be temporarily adjusted. This safeguards women's employment opportunities. Mothers who know they can return to their jobs will approach their return to work after childbirth with greater motivation. This security fosters a stronger sense of identification with the company among all employees – those who want to attract and retain qualified professionals should create mother-friendly and thus family-friendly conditions.

Guidance for good business practice

The members of the Working Group on Maternity Protection support companies in the state of Bremen in implementing maternity protection regulations. The working group provides information and practical guidance at events, for example on the following topics:

• Employer's obligations during maternity protection
• Integration of maternity protection into operational processes
• Risk assessment according to the Maternity Protection Ordinance
• Protection against infection risks in healthcare and in professional interactions with children
• Cooperation with gynecologists and occupational health physicians
• Breastfeeding and employment
• Maternity protection for self-employed women
• Amendment of the maternity protection law

Under the leadership of the Senator for Science, Health and Consumer Protection, numerous associations and professional organizations, in addition to the Chamber of Employees, are working together in the Working Group on Maternity Protection:

Trade supervisory authority Bremen/Bremerhaven, Chamber of Skilled Crafts, Chamber of Commerce/IHK Bremerhaven, Bremen business associations, Bremerhaven employers' association, DGB Bremen-Elbe-Weser, Professional Association of Gynecologists, Association of Company and Factory Physicians, Barmer/GEK, Bremen General Staff Council, ZGF, Impulsgeber Zukunft, pro familia Bremen. 
 

Meeting location
: Alternating between the individual participants

Meetings are held
twice a year.

Participation requirements:
Professionals from this field; participation only after prior acceptance; participants are sent by their institutions.

Working level
State level

Cooperation with other working groups and committees:
Forum Women's Health in Bremen, Forum Women + Health Bremerhaven