Last week, the National Board of Health and Welfare announced that pregnant women between weeks 22 and 36 should be classified as a risk group as women with a covid infection risk giving birth prematurely.
The message would theoretically also mean that pregnant women, just like other risk groups who do not have the opportunity to work from home, would be entitled to compensation from the state if they are forced to stay home from work.
Can not work from home
Teachers are a professional group where many cannot work from home and the National Union of Teachers has been called down by worried members following the National Board of Health and Welfare's announcement.
- There are many pregnant members who have heard of it with great concern, says union president Johanna Jaara Åstrand.
- Of course, people are worried about being exposed to infection and what consequences it can have for the fetus, but also for their finances and that there is no clear message for what applies.
No information from the government yet
Last year, the government decided on temporary compensation for people in risk groups who are at risk of becoming seriously ill from covid-19 and therefore must refrain from working.
The compensation is currently SEK 810 per day, before tax.
However, so far the government has not said whether pregnant women will also be covered by the support.
-We demand that pregnant women be allowed to take part in the risk group compensation from week 22. There is no reason for pregnant women to be treated differently than other risk groups, says Johanna Jaara Åstrand.
- We want the government to be clear and instruct the Swedish Social Insurance Agency to enforce it.
Minister of Social Insurance Ardalan Shekarabi, through his press secretary, says that the Ministry of Social Affairs is currently working on the issue and that they will return with a message.