Parental leave: MEPs call for common rules to be better enforced

The European Parliament's plenary session backed on 12 May 2016 a resolution calling for the European Union's common rules on minium parental leave to be better enforced across the EU.

The text defended that member states should guarantee working parents the right to take four months off, unpaid, regardless of where and how they are employed, and fathers in particular should be encouraged to apply for it.

In 1995 EU cross-industry social partner organisations reached a framework agreement on parental leave which was given legal effect by a Council Directive a year later. The agreement was completely revised in 2009 and new directive approved in 2010.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Council Directive 2010/18/EU of 8 March 2010 implementing the revised Framework Agreement on parental leave concluded by BUSINESSEUROPE, UEAPME, CEEP and ETUC and repealing Directive 96/34/EC http://www.europeansources.info/record/council-directive-2010-18-eu-of-8-march-2010-implementing-the-revised-framework-agreement-on-parental-leave-concluded-by-businesseurope-ueapme-ceep-and-etuc-and-repealing-directive-96-34-ec/

ESO: Background information: Parental Leave Directive. Towards a revision? http://www.europeansources.info/record/parental-leave-directive-towards-a-revision/

VoteWatch Europe, 19.05.16: EU Parliamentarians ask for the extension of parental leave http://www.votewatch.eu/blog/eu-parliamentarians-ask-for-the-extension-of-parental-leave/

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