Maternity and paternity benefits for self-employed workers

The South African Law Reform Commission has called for comments on the Research proposal paper, Maternity and paternity benefits for self-employed workers. "The aim of this Research Proposal Paper is to serve as a basis for the South African Law Reform Commission‟s (hereinafter “SALRC”) deliberations on the subject of State maternity and paternity benefits for self-employed workers. A gap currently exists in the State‟s social security system, in that self-employed workers are excluded from receiving maternity and paternity benefits when the mother enters confinement. This situation exacerbates the socioeconomic problems of poverty and inequality between women and men in South Africa, prevents women‟s full economic participation, and impacts on their reproductive choices. The purpose of this SALRC study is to investigate shortcomings in the current maternity and paternity protection mechanisms, how this gap should be addressed, and by whom, in order to give effect to South Africa‟s obligations in terms of the Constitution, and applicable regional and international gender equality conventions."