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MEPs vote in favour of 20-week maternity leave
Minimum maternity leave in the EU should be extended from 14 to 20 weeks fully paid, with some flexibility for countries which already have a family-related leave, the European Parliament has decided.
An entitlement to paid paternity leave of at least two weeks was also approved by a majority of Members.
A majority of MEPs voted in favour of extending the minimum maternity leave from 14 to 20 weeks, going beyond the European Commission's proposal to extend it to 18 weeks, in a resolution drafted by Edite Estrela (S&D, PT) and adopted by 390 votes in favour, 192 against and 59 abstentions.
However, Members adopted amendments adding that when a family-related leave is available at national level, the last four weeks may be considered as maternity leave, paid at least 75%.
In October 2008, the Commission proposed to review the current legislation (directive 92/85), as part of the "work-life balance" package, based on ILO Maternity Protection Convention of 2000.
MEPs backed the Commission's proposal that out of the total maternity leave, 6 weeks should be taken after childbirth.
Workers on maternity leave must be paid their full salary, which must be 100% of their last monthly salary or their average monthly salary, states the adopted resolution. As to pay, the European Commission proposes 100% remuneration during the first six weeks of maternity leave. For the remainder of the leave, it recommends granting full pay. The latter is not a binding provision, but the amount paid must no less than sick pay.
The draft legislation seeks to lay down minimum rules at EU level. Member States may introduce or keep existing rules that are more favourable to workers than those laid down in the directive.
"Maternity cannot be regarded as a burden on social security systems, it is an investment in our future", said the rapporteur Edite Estrela (S&D, PT) during the debate in plenary on Monday.
Member States are asked to give fathers the right to fully paid paternity leave of at least two weeks within the period of maternity leave, says the text adopted. MEPs who opposed this provision argued that paternity leave is out of the scope of this legislation dealing with "health and safety of pregnant women".
