Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

Article 3(c) of the Convention. The Committee notes that the Government's report contains no reply to its earlier comments. However, the Committee notes with interest the adoption in 1996 of Act No. 24.714 concerning the family benefits scheme which, under the terms of section 11, reduced the length of service required as a condition for entitlement to cash benefits during maternity leave from six to three months. The Committee once again requests the Government to indicate whether women workers who do not meet this condition are entitled to cash benefits from public funds or under a public assistance scheme. The Committee also requests the Government to continue to provide information on any new measures taken to ensure that all women workers covered by the Convention are entitled to cash benefits during their maternity leave, in accordance with this provision.

In this regard, the Committee notes that under section 2 of Decree No. 1245/96 implementing the afore-mentioned Family Benefits Act, a worker's length of service during the months immediately before his or her current activity may count towards the length of service required before the worker is entitled to benefits. The Committee would be grateful if the Government would clarify the term "in the months immediately before".