EU: maternity leave, social priority of the future Swedish presidency

Objections. The legal basis of the draft directive (art. 141 of the Treaty, which notably includes the objective of work-life balance, and 137 on the protection of health and safety, the basis of the original directive) isn’t the only issue which divides the Member States. Germany, the Netherlands and Lithuania are totally opposed to adding four more weeks to maternity leave, and 22 States are against the removal of mandatory pre-natal leave.
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ernity leave, pay or even the length of pre-natal leave. (Ref. 090621)

Without surprise, the six months of the Czech Presidency weren’t enough to achieve the Commission’s ambitious proposition to extend maternity leave from 14 to 18 weeks in Europe (see our dispatch No. 080746). In addition to the extension, the proposed revision of Directive 92/45 provides for six mandatory weeks of leave after birth and removes the obligation to take a pre-natal leave.

Objections. The legal basis of the draft d

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