The European Parliament (EP) decided Wednesday to extend the minimum maternity leave with full pay in the European Union from 14 to 20 weeks; 6 should be taken after childbirth.
With 390 votes in favour and 192 against, the members of Parliament adopted the resolution adding 2 more weeks to the 18 weeks proposed by the European Commission. At the same time the EP approved a fully paid paternity leave of a minimum of two weeks within the maternity leave period.
The adoption sets the minimum maternity leave for the EU, but member states are able to keep or install more generous family leave policies. The resolution is the result of a legislation review as part of the “work-life balance” package, based on the ILO Maternity Protection Convention in 2000.
