EU plans to up minimum parental leave to four months

The European Commission proposed on the 30 July 2009 to increase the existing right to take parental leave from three to four months per parent and apply it to all employees, regardless of their type of contract.

If adopted by Member States in the Council, the proposal would give legal effect to a June 2009 agreement negotiated by European trades unions and employers' organisations. The proposal complements the Commission's recent package of measures to improve work-life balance for Europeans.

European Commission: DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities: Press Release, 30.7.09: Commission proposes to increase parental leave http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=89&newsId=575&furtherNews=yes

ETUC: Framework Agreement on Parental Leave, June 2009 http://www.etuc.org/IMG/pdf_Framework_agreement_parental_leave_revised__18062009.pdf

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