EU maternity leave proposals 'ill-judged'
Posted, October 03, 2008 @ 14:00
EU maternity leave proposals 'ill-judged'
EU should not decide maternity pay or leave
Brussels, 3rd October 2008 -- Flexible working practices should be encouraged, but the European Union is not best placed to tell British mothers and fathers how much leave they must take, nor how much they should receive for maternity pay, Philip Bushill-Matthews MEP, Conservative leader and employment spokesman in the European Parliament, said today.
The European Commission has announced proposals that would see women entitled to full paid leave for the first 18 weeks of their maternity leave. In the UK, they currently receive 90 percent of their average pay for the first six weeks, followed by 33 weeks at a flat rate of Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP). The government is planning to extend SMP to 52 weeks in 2010 already.
On Tuesday, Theresa May confirmed that new parents would be given 52 weeks of leave after the birth which they could divide between them as they see fit.
Mr Bushill-Matthews said:
"Decisions regarding maternity leave and maternity pay should be made by national governments, not the EU.
"Flexible working and work-life balance must be encouraged but it is not for Brussels to tell British mothers and fathers how much leave they should take.
"Small businesses will struggle to afford this extra cost. Ultimately some of the smallest businesses may think twice about employing young women through fear of them going on maternity leave.
"The proposals are ill-judged and should be reconsidered."