Maternity Leave Directive threatened
The European Women’s Lobby cries scandal as the rhetoric on women’s rights and gender equality takes a blow.
The European Women’s Lobby, (EWL), has learned with dismay about the European Commission’s proposal to withdraw the proposed Maternity Leave Directive, as a gesture of ‘legislative management’ before the new Commission is installed.
“This is a classic example of the backlash against women’s rights and gender equality in Europe,” Joanna Maycock, the EWL’s Secretary General said.
“It sends a very bad signal to women and men in Europe about how much the EU can do to support real people’s rights and lives.”
The proposed Maternity Leave Directive was adopted democratically by a large majority of the European Parliament on its first reading on 20 October 2010.
It has nonetheless been blocked by Member State governments (Council) for over three years.
The proposal provides a number of forward-looking measures including 20 weeks fully paid maternity leave, strengthened measures to protect women from dismissal on return and two weeks fully paid paternity leave also available to same sex couples.
“The threat to remove the Maternity Leave Directive from the legislative process is serious and undermines the democratic process of the European Parliament’s adopted position,” Maycock said.
“This negates Europe’s rhetoric on its commitment to gender equality and effective work-life balance for women and men in Europe.”
Women continue to earn 16 per cent on average less than men and it is often at the moment of childbirth that the gender pay gap kicks in, with life-long often irreversible consequences, including the fact that women receive on average 40 per cent less pension than men.
Despite existing laws that protect pregnant workers, more and more women today are experiencing discrimination in the work place as a direct result of pregnancy and/or birth.
This is why it is urgent to strengthen the rights and protection of women during pregnancy and on return to work.
“It is unacceptable that measures to protect women’s rights are part of a trade-off to cut red tape: women’s rights are not red tape,” Maycock pointed out.
In an Open Letter to the newly designated President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, the EWL calls on him to reject this proposal to withdraw the Maternity Leave Directive, immediately reinstate the proposal and to give his full commitment to reaching a decision with the Council.
The EWL expects the newly-elected European Parliament will react strongly against this proposal and will work with the Italian Presidency towards achieving a favourable conclusion.
I’ve just emailed Linda McAvan MEP to ask her which Member States have been blocking it and whether she is involved with the EWL.