Austria Considers Phased Leave for Parents After Miscarriages Amid Political Debate
Family Minister Claudia Plakolm (ÖVP) has invited Health Minister Korinna Schumann and Women’s Minister Eva-Maria Holzleitner (SPÖ) for discussions in mid-November. The topic at hand is Plakolm's proposal to introduce phased leave for parents following miscarriages, a move Austria aims to model after Germany's recent law.
Plakolm argues that maternity protection provides societal recognition of loss, job security, and automatic entitlement without justification to employers or doctors, unlike sick leave. She stated, 'Miscarriage affects so many families yet remains a taboo subject. I want mothers, fathers, and families to be able to speak openly about it and grieve in peace.'
The Neos party, however, has criticized Plakolm's proposal. Henrike Brandstötter, the Neos’ women’s spokesperson, accused Plakolm of employing a 'salami tactic' to undermine legal abortion rights. Brandstötter pointed out, 'This suddenly introduces maternity protection from the 13th week—right at the threshold where abortion remains decriminalized in Austria, up to the 12th week.'
The SPÖ has shown little enthusiasm for the initiative, emphasizing that sick leave is already an available option. Austria aims to model its phased leave approach after Germany's recent law, which grants protection periods of two weeks for miscarriages after the 13th week, up to six weeks from the 17th week, and up to eight weeks from the 20th week.
Plakolm dismissed the criticism as 'unacceptable conflation of entirely separate issues.' Despite the differing views, discussions are set to take place in mid-November to explore the potential implementation of phased leave for parents following miscarriages.
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