Brussels, 08/03/2010 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 8 March in Brussels, the Employment and Social Affairs Council adopted, without debate, the directive on 3 to 4 months of parental leave, to which each working parent is entitled. At least one of these four months cannot be transferred to the other parent (that is to say, if this month is lost or not taken up, it will be used to encourage fathers to take up this leave). The new directive aims to better reconcile family and professional life and promote equality between men and women in the labour market. It includes application of the framework agreement on parental leave, concluded by social partners at a European level (EUROPE 9924 and 9923). The main modifications of this new directive are: longer parental leave, protection against discrimination, the temporary rearrangement of working time, assessment of the specific needs of the parents of adopted children or those suffering from a disability and work contracts. For further details: EUROPE 10033. (G.B. / transl fl)