In brief, both the ETUC and French trade unions call on President Macron to back the draft Directive relative to work-life balance

In a letter addressed to French President Macron dated 02 May (here), the secretary general of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) together with the secretaries general of its affiliated unions (CGT, CFDT, FO, CFTC, and UNSA), request the President’s support for the draft Directive on parental leave (c.f. article No. 10177 for information on the Directive’s content). Key to the text is parental leave of at least four months, which at a minimum would be paid at the same rate as sick pay. The text is currently being debated at the EU Council of Ministers, and France along with 19 other Member States are opposing it, while the ETUC along with its affiliated unions are lobbying for it in any way they can. France is opposing the text on public finance grounds and intends to propose amendments. However time is against this landmark initiative that has rallied both unions and civil society, as European elections are set for May 2019. At national level too, lobbying is being undertaken as evidenced by a letter on 16 April sent by 50 or so associations to President Macron also asking him to back the text.