State maternity allowances exempt from seizure during debt enforcement proceedings under new draft law

The Healthcare and Social Issues Committee discussed the draft law on Enforcement Proceedings. MP Rati Ionatamishvili, Chair of the Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee, presented the issue.

According to the proposed amendment, a cash benefit paid from the state budget, in the amount determined by the Government of Georgia, for the period of paid leave due to pregnancy and childbirth, as well as paid leave for childcare, shall not be subject to seizure and, consequently, shall not be subject to enforcement. Accordingly, during enforcement proceedings against a pregnant woman/parent who is a debtor, the maternity leave benefit transferred by the State shall remain protected from enforcement.

As the rapporteur noted, the Law on Enforcement Proceedings establishes a list of property that is not subject to seizure. According to him, the current list does not include the cash benefit paid for the period of paid leave due to pregnancy and childbirth and paid leave for childcare.

“This payment is a measure taken by the State in support of a citizen, serving the best interests of the child and the family,” Rati Ionatamishvili stated.

The sponsors of the bill are the following Members of the Georgian Parliament: Rati Ionatamishvili, Zaza Lominadze, Aluda Ghudushauri, Savalan Mirzoev, Salome Jinjolava, Tornike Pagava, Sumbat Kiureghian, Zurab Kadagidze, Anton Obolashvili, Irma Zavradashvili, Rima Beradze, and Mariam Lashkhi.

Under the legislation, monetary assistance paid from the Georgian state budget during maternity and parental leave, as capped by the government, will be strictly exempt from seizure.