On Friday, October 3, the European Commission adopted a series of measures on better work-life balance. In addition to the revision of the directive on maternity leaves (see our dispatch No. 080746), it proposes to improve the situation of the self-employed and is counting on the European Social Partners to create new types of family-related leaves as part of the negotiations which recently started in this topic. (Ref. 080748)
Although endowed with limited room for maneuver in this area, the European Commission highlighted, in a communication published on Friday, October 3, that the issue of work-life balance is very important, notably regarding EU citizens’ labor market participation and the fertility rate within the Union. In spite of its importance, the document draws a rather mixed evaluation of the progress made in this area.
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