Maternity leave proposals rejected

The European council of ministers, which is composed of representatives of the governments of EU member states, has rejected proposals to improve maternity leave.

There was also concern among some member states that the parliaments' proposal to include paternity leave in the directive was not appropriate for a measure linked to health and safety.

The proposals were agreed by the European Parliament in October, but rejected at the council of minsters' meeting on 6 and 7 December (see Labour Research, December 2010, page 8).

A majority of ministers considered that the parliament's proposals, "notably the requested extension of the minimum maternity leave to 20 weeks on full pay," did not constitute "an appropriate basis" for further discussions with the parliament".

The UK government was one of the countries opposing the improvements. The Belgian government, which held the rotating presidency of the EU in the second half of 2010, suggested that the Commission's original proposal to increase minimum maternity leave across the EU from the current 14 to 18 weeks might offer a way forward.

It also said that the views of unions and employers should be taken into account.

However, the issue is now in the hands of the Hungarian and Polish governments, who hold the presidency in the first and second halves of this year. Neither has indicated that maternity leave will be priority.