CESI | Statement
After the Withdrawal of the Maternity Leave Proposal
Commission publishes Roadmap on work-life balance for those with dependents
3 Aug 2015
Today, the European Commission presented a roadmap on a new follow-up initiative, containing both legislative and non-legislative options, for a better work-life balance faced by working families and women and men with dependents, themed: ‘A new start to address the challenges of work-life balance faced by working families’.
According to Ms Lühmann, the roadmap correctly outlines the challenges faced by working families and working women in particular: “Employment rates among women continue to be significantly lower than employment rates among men. Many young mothers do not make it back to full employment after having given birth to a child, and young parents continue to often face difficulties in finding an appropriate balance between work and family. But this is nothing new”.
The European Commission writes in its roadmap that the situation of young mothers and families will not improve in the foreseeable future unless the EU takes effective action.
To which Ms Lühmann responded: “After the discussions of the last months on the maternity leave file, a call for action by the European Commission is the right signal. There is lots to do and giving up is not an option.”
Kirsten Lühmann stated that binding, legislative measures must be included in the package: “Non-binding suggestions and recommendations alone do not lead anywhere. During the discussions on the 2008 maternity leave directive proposal, the Member States proved that they do not see any need for action. The Commission, as the EU’s negotiation facilitator, must bring forward clear proposals and steer the European Parliament and the Council towards a credible compromise.” Ms Lühmann added that an ambitious, muscled and decisive agreement on an encompassing package of measures is important: “We cannot afford another impasse of more than half a decade!”.
Full text available at:
http://www.cesi.org/after-the-withdrawal-of-the-maternity-leave-proposal-commission-publishes-roadmap-on-work-life-balance-for-those-with-dependants/
CESI | Statement
After the Withdrawal of the Maternity Leave Proposal
Commission publishes Roadmap on work-life balance for those with dependents
3 Aug 2015
Today, the European Commission presented a roadmap on a new follow-up initiative, containing both legislative and non-legislative options, for a better work-life balance faced by working families and women and men with dependents, themed: ‘A new start to address the challenges of work-life balance faced by working families’.
According to Ms Lühmann, the roadmap correctly outlines the challenges faced by working families and working women in particular: “Employment rates among women continue to be significantly lower than employment rates among men. Many young mothers do not make it back to full employment after having given birth to a child, and young parents continue to often face difficulties in finding an appropriate balance between work and family. But this is nothing new”.
The European Commission writes in its roadmap that the situation of young mothers and families will not improve in the foreseeable future unless the EU takes effective action.
To which Ms Lühmann responded: “After the discussions of the last months on the maternity leave file, a call for action by the European Commission is the right signal. There is lots to do and giving up is not an option.”
Kirsten Lühmann stated that binding, legislative measures must be included in the package: “Non-binding suggestions and recommendations alone do not lead anywhere. During the discussions on the 2008 maternity leave directive proposal, the Member States proved that they do not see any need for action. The Commission, as the EU’s negotiation facilitator, must bring forward clear proposals and steer the European Parliament and the Council towards a credible compromise.” Ms Lühmann added that an ambitious, muscled and decisive agreement on an encompassing package of measures is important: “We cannot afford another impasse of more than half a decade!”.
Full text available at:
http://www.cesi.org/after-the-withdrawal-of-the-maternity-leave-proposal-commission-publishes-roadmap-on-work-life-balance-for-those-with-dependants/
