The Minister apologizes for the statement of an official about employers and women on maternity leave

The Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veterans’ and Social Affairs has publicly apologised for the negative statement by Milena Antic during her guest appearance in the TV show Beogradska hronika on the first channel of the public broadcaster Radio-televizija Srbije, the Ministry said today.

Milena Antic Janic, the Head of the Department for Population Policy and Financial Support to the Families with Children in that ministry, said on the national television yesterday that employers needed women to work, not to take maternity leave as soon as they got a job, and she discussed new legal solutions whereby the state would pay much lower maternity allowances to the employed workers on maternity leave, if they were employed for less than 18 months.

Minister of Labour, Employment, Veterans’ and Social Affairs Zoran Djordjevic has said that this statement is „scandalous“ and he ordered adequate sanctions against Mrs Antic.

„The statement is scandalous. I am really shocked. I have personally talked to Mrs Antic and drew her attention to all the negative consequences of her statement. There is no justification for such an action,“ Djordjevic said in a press release.

He added that „this will be the last warning to her and everyone else.“

„Such things must not be uttered, let alone happen. Increasing birth rate is our number one goal and we will continue to work on improving the position of mothers in Serbia every day and having as many children as possible“, said Djordjevic.

Izvor: Beta/BIZLife

Foto: Beta

Piše: B.M.