1. Family policy changes controversial discussions in Luxemburg
Maryse Arendt - Initiativ Liewensufank GIFA Geneva Infant Feeding Association
International Baby Food Action Network IBFAN
Second World Breastfeeding Conference 2016
11-14 December Johannesburg , South Africa

2. Family policy changes Family policies that could support parents
Family policies that could support mothers who would choose to stay at home to take care of their child in the first 2 years
Family policies that could support parents
who would choose to stay at home
to take care of their child in the first 2 years
Second World Breastfeeding Conference December Johannesburg , South Africa

3. Policies in place to support parents
Breastfeeding room in university
Maternity allowance abolished
Education allowance abolished
Maternity protection in place
Breastfeeding breaks in place
Parental leave in place
Some breastfeeding rooms in the workplace expansion needed
Second World Breastfeeding Conference December Johannesburg , South Africa

4. Maternity allowance
ILO Convention 183 of 2000: woman not meeting conditions for cash benefits shall be entitled to adequate benefits out of social assistance funds.
Luxemburg ratified convention 183 in 2008
Luxemburg had a maternity allowance in place since
For women during 8 weeks before and 8 weeks after birth
Money for women who are unemployed or have no right for paid maternity leave because not long enough employed, or employed with minimal earnings, students
Abolished in 2015
Second World Breastfeeding Conference December Johannesburg , South Africa

5. Reactions Not that much! No solidarity!
These women are not protected by workers association
No strong family organizations!
It was presented that modern women are working
That those not working could access social support when in financial need ( but reimbursable)
Not explained that even working women could have it before
Those opposing the abolition where presented as old fashioned!
Second World Breastfeeding Conference December Johannesburg , South Africa

6. Educational allowance in Luxemburg
For the parent not working after birth
Women or men who stopped working to raise their child
Women who never worked (unemployed, students)
Women who lost their work
For parents who are working both half-time after birth
For parents who continue both to work but are on minimal wages and earned less together than 3 times the minimal wage.
For single parents if they earn less than 3 times the minimal wage
This allowance brought a financial balance to the partly government financed child care for those parents not using these services!
Second World Breastfeeding Conference December Johannesburg , South Africa

7. Educational allowance in Luxemburg
Existed from until for (more than ¼ of a century)
Paid until 2nd anniversary of the child (4th anniversary for 3rd child)
For a child with a handicap it was paid for 4 years too
1/4 of minimal wage, not enough to live on your own.
Half of the allowance if one parent goes down to half time work
It was only paid once, even if two or more children were in the requested age range
Existed in parallel with paid (minimal wage) parental leave for both parents each of 6 months since (restricted access) for 15 years
Second World Breastfeeding Conference December Johannesburg , South Africa

8. Educational allowance in Luxemburg
Abolishment could not be hold!
Official communication was both parents are responsible to balance job and family life. Modern women should not stop working! They should work for financial independence and own pension rights!
Opponents qualified as unprogressive and conservative
Socioeconomic fragile parents have to ask for social aid money now
Difference: allowance for educational work – social aid!
I am still waiting for an answer from ILO how to report this as Luxemburg went down on the provisions they listed when ratifying the Convention 183
Second World Breastfeeding Conference December Johannesburg , South Africa

9. Thank you!!
Second World Breastfeeding Conference December Johannesburg , South Africa