Parliament voted in the first reading in favor of a legislative initiative that provides for this possibility.
The draft law, aimed at applying the principle of equal treatment for male and female freelancers, was developed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection and transposes European standards in this area into national legislation.
To receive social benefits, self-employed workers will be required to submit a written application to their local branch of the National Social Insurance Agency, in which they may opt to pay an increased fixed contribution in accordance with the provisions of the Law on the State Social Insurance Budget.
Thus, they will be eligible to receive temporary disability benefits, maternity benefits, child care benefits, paternity benefits, as well as benefits for single parents in the event of child adoption. At the same time, the wives of self-employed workers will also be eligible to receive maternity benefits.
According to data from the State Tax Service, in 2024 there were 50,879 self-employed workers registered who paid contributions to the state social insurance fund. Currently, these individuals receive only an old-age pension and a death benefit, and are not entitled to maternity benefits or other social payments.
The draft law will be considered by parliament in its second reading. Once adopted, the new legislative provisions will take effect on January 1, 2027.
