The European Parliament is calling for the introduction of two-week paternity leave and the extension of parental leave from 4 to 6 months. It is also proposing the "creation of a child guarantee" and "care credits". This is the thrust of the nonlegislative resolution adopted on 13 September in Strasbourg, in an effort to develop ideas on work-life balance.
This report was adopted by 443 votes in favour, with 123 against and 100 abstentions. It was jointly prepared by Vilija Blinkevičiūtė (S&D, Lithuania), from the women's rights committee, and Tatjana Ždanoka (Greens/EFA, Latvia), from the employment committee. This follows the roadmap on the work-life balance presented by the European Commission, following the withdrawal in summer 2015 of its draft directive on maternity leave (see EUROPE 11348). It should be pointed out that this dossier is currently in the hands of social partners, which are due to decide, as part of the second consultation phase, whether they will negotiate the roadmap dossiers (maternity/paternity/parental leave, leave to provide care and flexibility at work) or whether this should remain within the remit of the Commission.
In their resolution, MEPs explained that the Commission's roadmap "is not sufficiently ambitious". This echoes the recent report submitted by Marie Arena (S&D, Belgium) (see EUROPE 11550). They are also calling for extended parental leave (2010/18/EU Directive) to 6 months and an increase in the limit, based on the age of the child, from when parental leave can be taken. They call on the Commission to put forward a directive on paternity leave, "including a minimum of two weeks of fully paid compulsory leave ". They are also demanding a directive on leave for people in charge of providing professional care, "to enable workers to care for dependent persons, whilst providing the carer with appropriate remuneration and social protection". Another proposal involves the demand for "care credits" so that people who stop working to take care of a dependent person or member of the family, informally and on an unpaid basis, can see these periods accounted for as periods of work and calculated as part of their pension rights. They are also proposing to set up a "child guarantee" that enables every child to access free health care, free education, free childcare, decent housing and appropriate food, as part of an integrated European plan against child poverty.
The second social partners' consultation phase is expected to end on 30 September. On that day, we will know whether these issues will be taken up or whether it will go back to the Commission to put forward proposals in compliance with Articles 154 and 155 of the TFEU. According information held by EUROPE, the Commission is expected to present its package of measures before the end of the year. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)