CMNT_TITLE

Repetition

The Committee notes the Government’s first report.

Part II (Medical care) of the Convention. Provision of medical care, types of benefits, and cost-sharing. (i) Articles 7 and 10. Morbid condition. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application of Articles 7 and 10 of the Convention. In particular, the Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the medical benefits listed in Article 10(1)(a) are provided to the persons protected in case of morbid condition. The Committee further requests the Government to indicate whether and to what extent beneficiaries or insured persons are required to share in the cost of the medical care benefits received in case of a morbid condition, and, if cost-sharing is required, to provide information on any measure ensuring that cost-sharing does not involve hardship for persons protected, in application of Article 10(2) of the Convention. The Committee also requests the Government to state in detail the measures taken to give effect to Article 10(3) and (4).

(ii) Article 10(1)(b), in conjunction with Article 49, Part VIII (Maternity benefits). Maternity medical care benefits. The Committee requests the Government to indicate whether the maternity medical care benefits listed in Articles 10(1)(b) and 49 of the Convention are provided to insured women and to the wives of insured men during pregnancy, confinement and their consequences, and to provide a copy of the relevant legislation. The Committee further requests the Government to indicate whether beneficiaries or insured persons are required to share in the cost of maternity medical care benefits.

Part VI (Employment Injury Benefits), Article 35. Re-establishment of victims of employment injury in suitable work and vocational rehabilitation. The Committee notes the indication by the Government that no measures have yet been taken to give effect to Article 35 of the Convention, which requires that departments administering the medical care co-operate with the general vocational rehabilitation services, with a view to the re-establishment of disabled persons in suitable work. The Committee requests the Government to report on any measures taken or envisaged to give effect to Article 35 of the Convention.

Part VIII (Maternity Benefit), Articles 50 and 51. Maternity cash benefit. Application in practice. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government concerning the conditions for entitlement to maternity benefits. It notes, in particular, that women employees who have paid 30 weekly contributions into the National Insurance Services (NIS), including at least 20 weekly contributions immediately preceding the week of confinement, are entitled to a maternity benefit, in accordance with Regulation 19 of the National Insurance (Benefits) Regulations, 1994, as amended. The maternity benefit corresponds to 65 per cent of the woman’s insurable earnings (or credits) in the last 30 weeks (Regulation 22). The Committee also notes that insured women who have at least 20 weeks of paid contributions in the 30 weeks immediately preceding the week of childbirth, and the wives or partners of insured men with the same contributory period, are entitled to a maternity grant, which is a single payment of 660 dollars upon the birth of a child (Regulation 2 and Regulation 23, as amended). As regards the application of the provisions in practice, the Committee notes from the statistical information provided by the Government that, while 17,487 women were in insured employment in 2016, no maternity benefits have been paid from 2012 to 2016, while 584 maternity grants have been paid in 2016 only. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the reasons that may explain the lack of payment of any maternity benefits during the period 2012–16.