Today, European Union Members of European Parliament (MEPs) failed to pass a proposal that would have extended the minimum maternity leave to 20 weeks, and provided at least two weeks of paternity leave. Six weeks of the new maternity leave would have included full pay.
The paternity leave part specifically was an issue, the pet project of proposal writer Edite Estrela, a Portuguese MEP. Sadly, it was also the pet peeve of employment, social affairs and equal opportunities commissioner Vladimír Špidla, a Czech MEP.
The European Parliament is comprised of 27 member nations, and convenes in Strasbourg, Brussels, and Luxembourg. Today’s proceedings took place in Strasbourg.
Fingers were pointed in all directions, by Liberals, Conservatives, and Others.
European People’s Party (EPP) MEP Edit Bauer said, "There are countries, such as Germany, where the maternity leave is paid by the employer.” Basically, she thinks these rules will deter employers from hiring women. The EPP are a conservative group, with alternate names that include the term “Christian Democrats.” They are the current majority in European Parliament.
Estrela said the European Parliament was attempting to “modernize legislation that is 17 years old and really out of date.” She also said she “introduced a new concept of paternity leave because I think it's very important for women and men to share parental responsibilities.”
Personal favorite quote of the day, by Green MEP and vice president of the women's rights committee Raül Romeva:
Conservatives and Liberals in the European parliament apparently don't think it is a priority to support mothers and fathers and address their difficulties in reconciling work and family responsibilities… I hope that voters will be aware of where the political groups truly stand on family issues when they go to the polls next month.
Yeee-owch! Suck on that, Conservatives and Liberals!
Maternity leave was kind of a huge part of why I was going to move to Europe. What an I gonna do now?
What say you?
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