Čengić: Enable moratorium on loans during maternity leave

SARAJEVO, (Patria) - On the occasion of March 8, International Women's Day, SDP MP in the FBiH Parliament Irfan Čengić sent a parliamentary initiative to the FBiH Government requesting the FBiH Government to enable a loan moratorium program during maternity leave through Union Bank, which is owned by the citizens of FBiH.

He also sent a letter to the Association of Banks of BiH with the same proposal for private commercial banks to introduce this product.

He points out that the implementation of this initiative does not require changes to laws or bylaws; the will of the FBiH Government is sufficient, and Union Bank should include it in its product catalog.

"We are witnessing that in the last three years in BiH, there have been 34,169 fewer births than deaths. Any help to young married couples is welcome, and this measure, which can be implemented through the state bank, as well as private banks, can at least slightly ease maternity leave for mothers," states Čengić, emphasizing that he is aware of the problems with maternity benefits, the disparities between employed and unemployed mothers, differences between mothers based on their place of residence, and so on.

"In the FBiH Parliament, I will vote for any act that improves this area, and I finally expect that the laws we have been waiting for from the FBiH Government will be adopted this year," said Čengić, reminding that former minister Malik Garibija increased these benefits in Sarajevo Canton in 2019 after 11 years, which speaks to the SDP's principles on this issue.