Nursing Allowance During the COVID19 Emergency

Nursing Allowance will be paid out up to 13th birthday of the child and throughout the school closure. Deputies supported the bill of minister Maláčová.

The Deputies supported the bill of the Czech Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs to extend the nursing allowance. From now on, it should be reimbursed to employees throughout the closure of schools and other institutions. The entitlement to nursing allowance is extended to all children under 13 years. The changes will be valid only for the duration of the government´s emergency measures to combat the COVID-19 outbreak.

“We had to immediately ensure that parents receive the allowance throughout the emergency measures duration. And all parents having children under 13 years have the right to receive it. Families must have sufficient support throughout the fight against coronavirus. In case the crisis measures are extended for a longer period of time, I will submit a bill to increase the nursing allowance to more than the current 60% of the reduced assessment base. We must support parents,” promised the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Jana Maláčová (ČSSD).

The Chamber approved:

  • From now on, the nursing allowance will be provided throughout the emergency duration of the epidemic, during the closure of schools, and other childcare institutions. It will be provided even after the finishing of the proper support period (9 days and 16 days in single parents respectively).
  • The nursing allowance will be applied to all children under 13 years.
  • The nursing allowance will also be paid out in the case of the care of older handicapped children attending school.
  • Two caregivers can take turns in childcare as needed. Up to now, two caregivers could change in care only once. The proposal alleviates this rule so that it better reflects the lengthening of the nursing support period to the entire time of childcare needs due to the emergency measures during the epidemic. It enables the authorized persons to change in care multiple times and the number and way of changes are unrestricted.
  • The entitlement to nursing allowance arises also in the case of closure of a facility providing daycare for a handicapped household member.
  • Provided the facility will be closed by the founder, the nursing allowance will be paid out as well.

 

According to the government agreement, the loss of income due to childcare in self-employed persons will be remediated by the program of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The amendments must be now approved by the Senate and signed by the President of the Czech Republic. The Upper House will discuss the law on March 25. After approval of the law, the allowance will be paid retroactively at the date of emergency measures. These changes will be valid only for the duration of the emergency measures.

Source

This article has been kindly translated from the source for Littlepanda by Tereza Toralova.