On 4 April, the European Parliament plenary adopted a new proposed Directive on work-life balance for parents and carers, which will repeal of the existing Framework Agreement on Parental Leave, made binding by Council Directive 2010/18/EU (the Parental Leave Directive).
The law sets minimum requirements for all Member States, in a bid to boost women’s representation in the workplace and strengthen the role of a father or an equivalent second parent in the family. This would benefit children and family life, whilst reflecting societal changes more accurately, and promoting gender equality.
The main novelties introduced by this Directive are:
- Minimum of ten working days paternity leave paid at the level of sick pay
- Two months of non-transferable paid parental leave
- Five days of annual carer’s leave
- Flexible working patterns, including remote working
Next steps
The informally agreed text will have to be confirmed by a plenary vote, which is planned for the second plenary session in April.
If the text is approved, the directive enters into force on the twentieth day following its publication in the EU Official Journal. Member states will have to comply with the rules within three years.
You can find more information, as well as the text adopted here: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20190402IPR34670/meps-adopted-measures-to-reconcile-work-and-family-life
