Larger benefits for Italian mothers that return to work

In Italy, a woman can have children without giving up their jobs.

Whenever a woman has a child, she receives 1000 euros and if she gives up the parental leave she is rightfully entitled to, her employee offers her other consistent benefits equal to twice her salary.

This happens in private companies.

According to a study carried out by two economists working for the Bank of Italy, a child up to two years old can be an obstacle in a woman’s career, but at the same can be a very good source of income if the mother gives up parental leave.

The two economists underline in their study that a successful Italian woman can very well raise a child without giving up her job.

However, women have to go through a fire test.

Their children’s first two years of life.

During this period of time, women are very unlikely to have time to do something else besides taking care of their babies.

Mothers have a much easier life after their children’s first two years of life

However, after 24 months, although raising a child gets easier, women might not be as efficient as they used to at work.

Time has proved that women often pay a very high price for having a child: their career.

They give birth and after a few days they resume work, taking from time to time small breaks.

Therefore, they succeed in raising children and fulfilling their work tasks efficiently.

1,000 euros offered to each woman after giving birth

In this kind of situations, the income is everything but small.

Apart from the 1,000 euros all parents receive when they have a child, mothers earn a double salary during parental leave for choosing not to interrupt and effect the company’s activity.

In Italy, women receive a five-month leave: two months before and three after giving birth.

During this period of time, women receive 80 percent of their salary.

As a result, the analysis carried out by the two economists working for the Bank of Italy, Concetta Rondinelli and Roberta Zizza, destroys the preconception that a woman risks losing her job when deciding to have a child.

Furthermore, according to the same study, whether women choose to go to work or stay home during their parental leave, families do not face financial difficulties in the children’s first two years of life.

In other words, modern women can pursue a career even after having children.

Of course, it depends on the number of children they are having.

Translated by: Raluca Mizdrea
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University