The European Parliament is calling again for more equity in the labour market so as not to penalise women caring for a third party. This non-legislative resolution was adopted by a large majority of MEPs on Thursday 15 November in the middle of negotiations on work-life balance.
The text, drafted by Sirpa Pietikäinen (EPP, Finland), deplores the fact that 80% of care in the European Union is provided by unpaid informal carers, 75% of whom are women. Aware that this situation primarily penalises women, MEPs call on the Commission to integrate data on care into a set of indicators of social progress, which should be monitored as part of the 'European Semester' budget process.
Against the background of trilogues on the draft proposal for the private/work life directive (see EUROPE 12136), MEPs unanimously reiterate their support for the creation of longer and better paid paternity and caregiver leave, non-transferable parental leave, guarantees against dismissal, etc., including for self-employed workers and people who need to take duly paid leave for the care of dependent persons other than children.
Improving care services and pensions
Among the concrete measures, MEPs call for the introduction of 'care credits' in labour law, equivalent to periods of work for the purpose of building pension rights, to protect people who stop working to care for a dependent person or family member informally and unpaid, and to recognise the contribution that these carers make to society as a whole. They ask the Commission to define a legal framework establishing minimum standards for workers in the personal care sector and to launch an initiative on the quality of long-term care.
In a relatively lengthy vote, MEPs refused to call for wage increases in the personal care sector, to increase public sector childcare services or to introduce separate taxation for spouses.
During the debate preceding the vote, the Commissioner for Gender Equality, Věra Jourová, announced that she would launch a public consultation in the coming weeks on the effectiveness of the provisions for equal pay. For the rest, she said that the European Parliament's resolution was "consistent with the work carried out by the Commission so far". (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)