By Martin Banks - 21st June 2011
The argument that equality is only for prosperous times is an extremely dangerous one
Carola Fischbach-Pyttel
One of Europe's biggest trade unions has voiced "deep concern" at the decision to shelve plans to extend EU maternity rights.
The European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU) said the extension would have provided improved maternity rights for "millions of women" across the EU.
It was responding to a decision last Friday by EU employment ministers to ditch proposals to extend minimum maternity leave to 20 weeks on full pay.
For months some MEPs and others had warned that the extension would cost too much and might prejudice the employment of women.
Current EU rules, agreed in 1992, set minimum maternity leave at 14 weeks, with pay for the duration to be no lower than sickness pay in the member state concerned.
The European commission decided in 2008 to increase the benefit, proposing 18 weeks' maternity leave, with the exact pay rate left to national authorities.
In October last year MEPs went even further proposing a 20 week period.
In doing so, they put themselves on collision course not just with member states with relatively generous national schemes, such as Germany, Belgium and Spain.
Last Friday's decision was condemned by Carola Fischbach-Pyttel, EPSU general secretary, who said, "We are deeply concerned that some ministers have expressed satisfaction at the current deadlock.
"The failure to make progress on the revision of this directive means that millions of mothers across Europe are being denied improved maternity protection. If the governments disagree, they should negotiate with parliament and not walk away from their responsibility."
She added, "The risk is that women do not only get the prospective 20 weeks of leave proposed by parliament but also that these governments have blocked progress towards a minimum of 18 weeks maternity leave.
"It is unacceptable that the political debate regarding maternity leave is increasingly focused solely on financial costs rather than the benefits not only for the mother, baby and the immediate family unit but also for our wider societies.
"In addition to the pay aspects, the proposals contain improved legal protections for pregnant workers, who are particularly vulnerable to discrimination especially during periods of economic downturn.
"At a time when women are bearing the brunt of the cost of the crisis, many governments - notably the wealthiest and those with the largest financial sectors - are using the economic crisis as an excuse for blocking progress on gender equality.
"The argument that equality is only for prosperous times is an extremely dangerous one."
She said the decision "reveals a stark contradiction between the EU's stated policy aims of increasing the female participation rates, reducing the gender pay gap and facilitating reconciliation between professional and private life and the lack of political will to take concrete action to achieve these aims."
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