Expanding Maternity & Paternity Leave in Europe

Earlier this month, members of the European Parliament ruled in favour of expanding minimum maternity leave in Europe from 14 to 20 weeks and paternity leave to two weeks on full pay, a proposal which they must now try to sell to individual governments. In the end, MEPs decided to go beyond the initial proposal of the European Commission, which called for 18 weeks, but to come in lower than the 24 weeks, which was recommended by the World Health association (WHO).
The European Parliament proposal calls for mothers to be paid their whole salary during the 20 week leave, something that would be a radical change for some Member States, which currently only assure a portion of salary. The text also includes amendments to prohibit the dismissal of pregnant staff from the beginning of their pregnancy until at least 6 months after the end of the period of maternity leave. In addition, women have the right to return to their jobs or equivalent positions, i.e. with the same salary, professional category and functions they had before their maternity leave. MEPs also established that staff should not be required to do night duty or overtime during the ten weeks prior to childbirth and whilst breastfeeding.