ETUC urges EU Parliament to improve maternity protection

Brussels, 15/10/2010

We want full payment of maternity leave for a period of at least 18 weeks, enhanced provisions on health and safety notably in terms of prevention and risk assessment, inclusion of domestic workers in the scope of the new directive and stronger provisions against dismissal of women during and after returning from maternity leave.

The crisis makes it even more important to ensure that pregnant women and women who have recently given birth are adequately protected,” says John Monks, ETUC Secretary General, “The cost of extending maternity leave from 14 to 18 weeks is very small in comparison to what Member States have spent on bailing out the banks, but the benefits to working women and their families are great.”

Link to the ETUC position: http://www.etuc.org/a/5858