EU looking to up maternity leave to 20 weeks
European MPs are looking to increase maternity pay to 20 weeks on full pay. An EU committee has passed draft legislation that has yet to be discussed by the wider EU parliament.Current EU rules for maternity leave give women 14 weeks, although in the UK mothers are allowed one year off work - with six weeks on 90% and 33 weeks on Statutory Maternity Pay.
The draft legislation, tabled by the Pregnant Workers Directive, will cost UK businesses between £1.5bn and £2bn a year, according to the Institute of Directors. It would also, believe conservatives and liberals in the EU parliament, undermine the ability of women to find work if they are of child-bearing age. Companies would avoid hiring them, critics believe.
Dr Adam Marshall, at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "The Pregnant Workers Directive should be about setting minimum EU standards for the health and safety of pregnant workers - not adding new payroll costs for overburdened companies and national social security systems.
"This vote introduces complexity and uncertainty, which are totally unnecessary, as the UK and other EU countries already have well-developed national maternity pay systems."
Sarah Jackson, chief executive of Working Families, added: "Yesterday's vote in favour of 20 weeks of maternity pay on full pay from Brussels is an ambition that we would endorse. Evidence shows that finances dictate when low paid women return to work. Apart from the first six weeks, the UK pays women less than the national minimum wage in SMP. This sends a poor message about the best start in life for low income families.
"The idea that this would have an impact on employability should be knocked on the head: in the UK the state - not the employer - pays SMP. We're also pleased to hear EU talking about paternity pay - over 40% of fathers don't take any paternity leave at all, the majority because they can't afford it and this needs addressing urgently."
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