Mama mia...Women's Rights

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A few weeks ago the European Parliament voted to extend the period of paid maternity leave for 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 Union rejected 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 maternity leave from 14 to 18 weeks. The proposal was that while the paid maternity leave would not necessarily 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 draft legislation to extend maternity leave to 20 weeks on full pay, which the European Parliament approved in October. France, Germany and the UK opposed against the proposals. Belgium has said that the original proposal to extend the minimum length of maternity leave from 14 to 18 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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