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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| EU plans extended maternity leave | EU plans extended maternity leave |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Draft legislation has been passed by a committee of the European Parliament to extend maternity leave across Europe to 20 weeks on full pay. | Draft legislation has been passed by a committee of the European Parliament to extend maternity leave across Europe to 20 weeks on full pay. |
| Current European rules give women 14 weeks leave fully paid. | Current European rules give women 14 weeks leave fully paid. |
| In the UK, women get a year off, with the first six weeks on 90% pay, followed by 33 weeks on Statutory Maternity Pay. The rest is unpaid. | In the UK, women get a year off, with the first six weeks on 90% pay, followed by 33 weeks on Statutory Maternity Pay. The rest is unpaid. |
| The 20-week proposals will now go before the full European Parliament in early March. | The 20-week proposals will now go before the full European Parliament in early March. |
| There are concerns that employers could discriminate against women of a child-bearing age if the rules are passed. | There are concerns that employers could discriminate against women of a child-bearing age if the rules are passed. |
| 'Totally unnecessary' | 'Totally unnecessary' |
| The UK's Employment Relations Minister Lord Young expressed his doubts about the proposals. | The UK's Employment Relations Minister Lord Young expressed his doubts about the proposals. |
| 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 Dr Adam Marshall, Director of Policy, British Chambers of Commerce | 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 Dr Adam Marshall, Director of Policy, British Chambers of Commerce |
| "We already have a generous system which is better than many European Union countries and works well, balancing the needs of businesses and workers," he said. | "We already have a generous system which is better than many European Union countries and works well, balancing the needs of businesses and workers," he said. |
| "A substantial increase in maternity leave paid at full or near-full pay risks undermining this delicate balance at a time when economies across the EU can least afford it." | "A substantial increase in maternity leave paid at full or near-full pay risks undermining this delicate balance at a time when economies across the EU can least afford it." |
| Business groups also voiced their concerns about the additional cost to companies of extra maternity payments. | Business groups also voiced their concerns about the additional cost to companies of extra maternity payments. |
| The Institute of Directors estimated that the cost to UK businesses of the new rules could be between £1.5bn and £2bn a year. | The Institute of Directors estimated that the cost to UK businesses of the new rules could be between £1.5bn and £2bn a year. |
| 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. | 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." | "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." |
| 'Reverse effect' | 'Reverse effect' |
| However, there is no certainty that the proposals will be passed by the European Parliament. | However, there is no certainty that the proposals will be passed by the European Parliament. |
| BBC Europe Business reporter Nigel Cassidy said it was "unlikely" that the proposals would be passed, mainly because of the current economic climate. | |
| He pointed out that similar proposals - for 20-weeks maternity leave but with just 6 weeks at full pay - were voted out by the Parliament about 18 months ago. | He pointed out that similar proposals - for 20-weeks maternity leave but with just 6 weeks at full pay - were voted out by the Parliament about 18 months ago. |
| "Conservatives and liberals felt the proposals would have the reverse effect and discourage employers from taking women on," he said. | "Conservatives and liberals felt the proposals would have the reverse effect and discourage employers from taking women on," he said. |