Vote. Up to the last minute, uncertainty hung over this key vote for the Parliament’s fall social agenda. British lobbies have been trying anything over the past few days to make sure the MEPs would reject Estrela’s report, arguing that extending maternity leave would be too expensive for the Member States. Even so, the report on the review of the 1992 directive on the protection of future and young mothers (see our dispatch No. 080746) was adopted after a first reading. The 20 weeks of leave – with at least six weeks after the birth – were approved by 327 votes in favor, 320 against and 7 abstentions (the Commission’s draft directive provides for an extension from 14 to 18 weeks). To soften the extension of maternity leave, European People's Part proposed an amendment (adopted) introducing the possibility, with respect to the last four weeks, of considering a scheme of family-related leave (i.e. parental or paternity leave) as maternity leave, on condition that it provides an overall protection that is equivalent to the level laid down in the Directive. The MEPs also validated the right to full pay or equivalent compensation during this leave, by 354 votes in favor and 308 against. They also adopted the introduction of 15 consecutive and non-transferable days of paternity leave, compensated like maternity leave, i.e. with full pay.
uivalent to the level laid down in the Directive. The MEPs also validated the right to full pay or equivalent compensation during this leave, by 354 votes in favor and 308 against.
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