NEW TIME OFF RIGHTS TO COME

03.08.09


TIME OFF - PARENTAL LEAVE
Representatives of employers, small businesses and trade unions have met as ‘European Social Partners’ and agreed to seek the following changes to the Parental Leave provisions. The proposed changes are:
• To increase parental leave from three to four months;
• Workers returning from parental leave have the right to return to the same job or an equivalent position “consistent with their employment contract or employment relationship”; and
• Improving protection against dismissal while on parental leave.
Don’t panic! It could take up to three years for the agreement to be applied in member states. It will firstly be examined by the European Commission which will then submit a proposal for the agreement to become a directive to the Council of Ministers, where it must be approved by a majority before it goes any further.

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