Mama mia...Women's Rights
Mama mia...Women's Rights
Mama mia...Women's Rights
A few weeks ago the European Parliament voted to extend the period of paid maternity leavefor 20 weeks at the full rate. Workers in the UK are entitled to 90% of their full pay
during the first six weeks of their maternity leave, and 33 weeks on statutory maternity
pay, currently 124.88 per week.
While nobody wishes to create difficulties for pregnant women, rights have to be affordable.
Even in times, when the economic wind isn't quite so cold such a right would be very costly
for employers. As you might expect, business leaders were alarmed by the proposal and it
was met with considerable frostiness. Many business owners said they simply wouldn't be
able to employ women of child bearing age if this right was to be implemented.
But a few weeks in politics are a long time and this week The Council of the European Unionrejected the Parliament's proposals. The Council raised concerns about the cost
implications and reiterated that a Directive should set minimum standards.
This has been the subject of lengthy discussions and consultation. In 2008, the European
Commission Commission submitted a proposal to extend the minimum period of paid maternityleave from 14 to 18 weeks. The proposal was that while the paid maternity leave would notnecessarily be at the full rate, it could be at or above the statutory sick pay rate.
In February this year the European Parliament Women's Rights Committee put forward draftlegislation to extend maternity leave to 20 weeks on full pay, which the European Parliamentapproved in October. France, Germany and the UK opposed against the proposals. Belgium hassaid that the original proposal to extend the minimum length of maternity leave from 14 to18 weeks could be a more acceptable basis for a compromise.
A final decision on the minimum length of paid maternity leave is not expected before next
year.
The Council also indicated that it is unwilling to include paternity leave in the Pregnant
Workers Directive. The Directive's main objective was to improve the health and safety of
pregnant women and new mothers.
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