Organization the “Young Barristers” published a research and recommendations on: “Legal status of mothers employed in private sector”, which has been sent to the executive and legislative authorities of Georgia for further introduction and implementation.

According to the head and co-founder of the “Young Barristers” – Marika Arevadze, based on the conducted monitoring results, further amendments and approach towards the European Standards still remains a major challenge of Georgian labor code. The research stated, that legal status of mothers employed in Georgia needs more guarantees, since the issues of remuneration during the maternity leave, provision of a mother and child with needed medical service and pharmaceutical products still remain problematic. In addition, the monitoring paid attention to Father’s right to benefit from paid leave for child care and thus create closer ties with the Georgian legislation and practice of European countries.

The organization published the study results through communication with private companies based in Georgia.  6 companies from various fields agreed to participate in the research, 14 companies disagreed to do so. Considering datas of the companies, positive attitudes were revealed towards the new labor code. In precise, the research showed, that:

• No employment termination occurred with pregnant employees in 2012-2013
• Majority of mothers benefited from paid maternity leave in 2012-2013
• All the employers prolonged the employment contract after the maternity leave
• Facts of employment termination occurred by the employee only
• Remuneration of the employed mothers during the maternity leave occurred through an individual scheme of the companies
• Companies preserved a contractual relationship with the employees after the maternity leave

 According to evaluations of the “Young Barristers”, a major advancement of the labor code occurred in prolonging of the maternity leave period, as for remuneration of maternity leave, if we compare current situation with the period before amendments, no major changes have occurred. Even though maternity leave period is longer than minimum time period set by the European standards, material provision of mothers during the maternity leave is still too low and irrelevant with child’s needs. Therefore, the labor code still needs effective amendments. A new approach towards maternity leave remuneration must be taken by the government and minimal standards of international labor organisation must be implemented. 

The organization asked following companies to participate in the research:  JSC “Georgian Beer Company” (Brewery Zedazeni , JSC “Bank of Georgia”,  JSC “TBC Bank” , JSC “Liberty Bank”, JSC “Bank Republic”,  JSC “Bank Constanta”, LLC “Microfinance Organization Credo”, LTD “Aversi Clinic” , JSC “Chachava Clinic , LTD “Rustavi 2 Broadcasting Company” LTD “Imedi Tv” , LTD “Maestro Tv Company” , JSC “GPC”, LTD “ABC Pharmacia”, LTD Coca-Cola Bottlers Georgia”,  LTD “TK Restaurant Group” (McDonalds) LTD “Adjara +” (Hotel Holiday Inn ), LTD “Georgian Hotel Management” (Hotel Radisson;) JSC “Aldagi BCI” სს,  JSC ”GPI Holding Vienna Insurance Group”.

The research also paid attention to international experience of employed mothers. From this point of view, labor codes of Canada, Norway and Estonia were briefly discussed, minimal standards of International Labor Organisation and The European Social Charter.