A compromise appears to be emerging at the European Parliament's employment and social affairs committee regarding the draft report by David Casa (EPP, Malta) on the draft directive relating to the balance between private and professional life. A vote will possibly take place in June instead of July.
On Tuesday 15 May, the rapporteur welcomed the relative consensus obtained on many key points, such as the introduction of possible paternity leave in adoption cases, the increase in the period of non-transferability of parental leave (set out by the European Commission in its proposal at four months), the introduction of a minimum limit on paternity leave of 10 days and 5 days carer’s leave.
During the contributions made, a consensus was obtained on the introduction of a non-regression clause: member states that have more progressive legislation than in the directive will not have to lower their protection levels.
Some questions still need to be decided. Mr Casa mentioned the duration in which parents can request changes to their working time. Some MEPs are calling for a timeframe that continues until the child is 8, while others would like this to be 12, similarly to the Commission (see EUROPE 11775). Mr Casa is suggesting a maximum duration of 10 years.
Another discussion subject in sight includes the level of remuneration for parents during holidays. The Commission is proposing remuneration that goes up to the level of sickness benefit allocations in force at a national level. According to MEPs, this provision would provoke too many differences between the member states. The rapporteur is proposing that remuneration for holidays is increased to 75% of the gross wage. Maria Arena (S&D, Belgium) would like this rate to be set at 85%. The Greens/EFA and the GUE/NGL would like this to be brought up to 100%.
Other crucial points include the proposal from Ms Arena to keep maternity and paternity leave in the event of the death of a new born baby so that parents have the time to grieve. Miroslavs Mitrofanovs (Greens/EFA, Latvia) mentioned the need to provide better information to workers about their rights and how to exercise them with regard to the work inspection services.
Mr Casa and Ms Arena would like the committee vote to take place in June. During the Employment and Social Affairs Council on 21 June, the member states are expected to reach a political agreement (general approach) on the text and pave the way to beginning inter-institutional negotiations after the summer break.
Tough Council negotiations. At the Council, the text is making life difficult for the member states and some of them believe that it will result in significant surcharges affecting public accounts, as France has argued (see EUROPE 12002).
Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, Spain and Italy are experiencing difficulties with certain aspects of the text but for different reasons.
The Council therefore appears to be moving towards the introduction of more flexibility in the text. Mr Casa said that the situation could produce “a clash" with the member states.
On Tuesday, the committee on women's rights and gender equality in Parliament examined the amendment submitted to the draft for an opinion from Ms Agnieszka Kozłowska-Rajewicz (EPP, Poland), in view of a vote on Monday 28 May. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)