EU: the European Parliament Employment and Social Affairs Commission makes significant amendments to the draft directive on work-life balance (briefly)

The European Parliament Employment and Social Affairs Commission has shown itself to be actively ready to enter into negotiations with EU governments on the draft directive addressing work-life balance. If the Plenary session approved the report that was adopted on 11 July, the co-legislators are far from being 'onside'. Contrasting with the governments' 'more measured' approach to the issues of leave time rights because of their public purse price tags (for the political agreement by the European Council in June only provides for "adequate compensation" for parental and paternity leaves c.f. article No. 10736), MEPs are uncompromising in pushing for paternity leave to be compensated up to a minimum of 80% of gross monthly salary and parental leave to be covered for up to a minimum of 78%, just like that received by carers. With the votes just having been cast, the EU Commission report is not yet available and as soon as we have more details we will update this article.