Parental leave is only the first step towards
work-life balance, say MEPs
Parental leave is the
first step towards achieving a good work-life balance and should as such be
supported by Parliament, Commission and Council, say MEPs from the Committee on
Women’s Rights and Gender Equality. Further measures are also needed to
encourage men to equally share family responsibilities.
The Committee on
Women’s Rights and Gender Equality have adopted a motion for a resolution on EU
measures to support gender equality in balancing work and family rights and
responsibilities. According to the Committee, only minimum requirements and
provisions are currently set out in the framework agreement on parental leave
that was signed by social partners in 2005: further measures in support of
flexible work methods still need to be developed in order to strike the right
balance between professional and family life. This balance is an essential
aspect of equal opportunities policy: The EU Council therefore needs to take
action in the field swiftly, say MEPs. The current framework agreement does not
adequately cover the following issues, MEPs believe:
Introduction at
EU level of an entitlement to paternity leave: the
leave time should be paid,
non-transferable, and the parent should
conserve all his rights.
This would
help fathers develop a bond with the child around the
time of the birth or
adoption.
Pay issues
should also be regulated at EU level to avoid a
disproportionate impact on
single-income households. The majority of
single parents with children are women.
A
non-transferable basis of parental leave for the entire four months
should be
stipulated.
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