OREANDA-NEWS. On 11 March 2009 was announced, that Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov signed the law "On amendments to the Code of Turkmenistan "On the social welfare"". The law was published in central print media of Turkmenistan, the Turkmenistan.ru correspondent reports from Ashgabat.

The law provides for the increase in a lump sum maternity grant as well as a monthly maternity allowance. Under the law, the maternity allowance will be paid to mothers with under 3-year-old children, instead of former 1,5 year age limit. Mothers with children born after the introduction of the new Code, as well as children who did not reach the age of 3 years by the date of the Code introduction will be entitled to the maternity allowance.

Amendments were also made to other articles of the Code. The law, which is due to take effect on 1 July 2009, provides for the increase in allowances to disabled people of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd groups of disability.

It should be recalled that the Code of Turkmenistan "On the social welfare" was approved by the law of Turkmenistan of 17 March 2007.