Self-employed women will receive increased maternity benefits if a bill approved by the Ministerial Committee for Legislation on Sunday passes into law. The proposal by MK Dov Khenin (Hadash) and MK Aliza Lavie (Yesh Atid) would give self-employed women National Insurance Institute (NII) benefits more similar to those given to female employees. Currently, if a self-employed woman’s income decreases after returning to work following childbirth, she has to pay the NII the difference between the benefits she received from her previous, higher income and that based on her new income.

 According to the Khenin and Lavie’s bill, NII maternity benefits for self-employed women will be based on the woman’s income for the entire year, not just after they give birth. “The government should allow protections for women so there can be greater equality in the world of self-employment,” Khenin said. “This bill is one of many laws and steps necessary to ensure the rights of self-employed men and especially women.”

 Attorney Irit Gazit, manager of WIZO’s legal aid department, which helped the MKs formulate the bill, said the government shouldn’t punish women for working less after childbirth in a world where women face discrimination in the workforce and are expected to take care of their children. “The government should create the conditions that will allow women to work and develop economically and act to improve the status of all women in the workforce,” Gazit stated.