ZAGREB, Jan 1 (Hina) - The new government, which is to hold a session on Monday, will propose the reintroduction of three-year-long maternity leave for mothers with three or more children, Deputy Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor, who is
at the helm of ministry of family, inter-generation solidarity and war veterans' affairs, said on Thursday after she visited the largest gynecological hospital in Zagreb.
ZAGREB, Jan 1 (Hina) - The new government, which is to hold a session
on Monday, will propose the reintroduction of three-year-long
maternity leave for mothers with three or more children, Deputy Prime
Minister Jadranka Kosor, who is at the helm of ministry of family,
inter-generation solidarity and war veterans' affairs, said on
Thursday after she visited the largest gynecological hospital in
Zagreb.#L#
"I hope that parliamentary deputies will support the motion," Kosor
said adding that three laws should be changed for this purpose.
According to statistical figures she presented on this occasion, the
annulment of the three-year-long maternity leave caused a fall in the
number of the third-born child in the family For instance, in 1998
there were over 12,000 third-born children as against 7,000 last
year, she added.
Kosor went on to say that figures on the birth rate were reason for
concern. Last year the number of the births fell under 40,000 for the
first time after 200 years.
The minister expressed fear that in 50 years' time the number of
Croatians would drop by one million. Therefore, she said, the
demographic issues should be put high on the government's agenda, and
added that the new cabinet would ask doctors and competent experts to
assist in offering good programmes so as to halt the negative trend in
the birth rate.
Kosor visited the 'Petrova' hospital to give presents to mothers who
gave birth to children since the start of the new year.
(Hina) ms