Strasbourg, 25/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - By adopting the report by the Finnish Green, Heidi Hautala, the European Parliament amended (second reading, co-decision) the draft directive on equal treatment between men and women regarding access to employment, training and vocational promotion, as well as working conditions. This proposal aims to amend the 1976 Directive (see EUROPE of 20 October, p.13). The EP amendments tend, in particular, to strengthen the fight against harassment and guarantee rights related to pregnancy and maternity. Due to the opposition of the EPP/ED Group, Parliament was unable to gather a qualified majority to confirm the position of its Committee on Women's Rights which also wanted to introduce a provision forcing Member States to take measures to oblige employers to respect the principle of equal pay for the same job or for work of equal value.
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