Presentation given by Mary Collins, Policy officer, European Women’s Lobby (EWL) on the occasion of the EESC LMO conference on 'Towards a better work-life balance' (Brussels, 24 September 2014).

1. EESC Conference "Towards a better
work-life balance"
Why Maternity Leave matters in the
context of reconciliation policies
European Women’s Lobby
Mary Collins
Socio-economic policy officer
24 September 2014

2. The voice of European Women
 The largest umbrella organisation of
women’s associations in the EU, with
more than 2000 member organisations:
Founded in 1990
31 National Co-ordinations
20 European-level
member
organisations

3. The Paradox of a growth driven paradigm
…
Europe needs more women on the labour market
Europe also needs more women to have more children
BUT
Limited reconciliation policies and in particular restrictive
Maternity Leave policies

4. Clear Distinction…
 MATERNITY = pregnancy and childbirth
 CARE = life long begins at birth
 CARE = NOT A WOMEN’S ISSUE ONLY –
Parental Leave /Paternity Leave / Carers Leave

5. Why MATERNITY LEAVE?
 Concerns (potentially) all women
 Physicality of child birth – ‘labour’
 Women perceived as a ‘risk’
 Variable rights – conditionality
 ‘Liquid’ labour market
 Women’s mobility as workers

6. MATERNITY LEAVE..Current
situation
 Pay – discretion of Member States – complex
 E.g. Belgium varies 82%/75% (Full salary for public sector
employees but ceiling); Sweden – 80%; UK/Ireland – flat rate +
possible ‘top-up’ can be taken away in times of crisis; Slovenia
– had 100% reduced to 90% (crisis); Hungary/Czech Republic –
70%
 Discriminatory Practices – prohibited but
occur
 E.g. increase in complaints to Equality Bodies (Netherlands)
 ‘blank dismissal’ letters prepared in advance

7. MATERNITY LEAVE..Life long
consequences
 PAY GAP 16 % – PENSION GAP 39%… two
sides of same coin
 MATERNITY AND CARE… alarm clock in
women’s lives
 22% older women – poverty/social exclusion
(16,3% men)

9. ..Gender equality a far-off
dream? 160 years

10. Draft maternity leave directive and now ?
2008 – Commission: amend Maternity Leave Directive
2010 – European Parliament: adopted position
2011 – Council “the requested extension of the minimum
maternity leave to 20 weeks on full pay, did not constitute an
appropriate basis for negotiations
2010- 2014 :Deadlock – negotiations stalled
2014 – Commission proposes to withdraw Maternity
Directive – in the name of “good legislative management”

11. European Parliament Position (2010)
Applies to all contracts
20 weeks, 6 compulsory, non
compulsory can be shared
Full pay
Protection from dismissal/no obligation
to do night work/overtime

12. European Parliament Resolution (2010)
Return to equivalent posts (same pay, professional
category and duties)
Additional leave: premature childbirth, children
hospitalised, children/mother with disabilities and
multiple births
Paternity - 2 weeks fully paid for life-partner
“Passerelle clause“ (other family-related leave):
last 4 weeks might be less remunerated (75%
salary) with ceilings in some MS.

14. REFIT (2014)
Regulatory Fitness and Performance Programme
(REFIT)
•The Commission considers it good legislative management to withdraw proposals that do
not advance in the legislative process, in order to allow for a fresh start or for alternative
ways to achieve the intended legislative purpose. A close scrutiny of all pending proposals
before the legislator has resulted in the identification of further proposals which are either
outdated or without support by the legislator and should therefore be suggested for
withdrawal. These include proposals on investor compensation schemes, aviation security
charges, pregnant workers, a compensation fund for oil pollution damage and
exempting micro companies from certain food hygiene provisions, (…) (pg 10)

15. EWL says NO!
“PHOTO BOOTH” gathering at the Esplanade, in
front of the European Parliament, between 12:30-
14:30 today
DELIVER NOW!
We call on the new Commission, in particular Commissioners Jourova
and Thyssen, to keep the Maternity Leave Directive on the agenda
We call on the European Parliament to maintain its position, adopted
by an overwhelming majority in 2010
We call on the Council and the Member States to engage and move
forward in negotiating with the European Parliament, to make their
official position known, to support a robust Maternity Leave Directive to
ensure that ALL women in Europe have equal rights

16. 1. The EWL – who we are

17. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!
For more information:
www.womenlobby.org