LOC17:32
14:32 GMT
BRUSSELS, Oct 20 (KUNA) -- The European Parliament voted Wednesday in
favour of extending the minimum maternity leave from 14 to 20 weeks.
Workers on maternity leave must be paid their full salary, which must be
100% of their last monthly salary or their average monthly salary, stated the
EP resolution adopted by 390 votes in favour and 192 against.
The resolution also wants EU member states to give fathers the right to
fully paid paternity leave of at least two weeks within the period of
maternity leave.
The resolution bans the dismissal of pregnant workers from the beginning of
a pregnancy to at least 6 months following the end of the maternity leave.
" Mothers' rights are a key priority for the European Commission. If we
want to move towards gender equality in the work place, we must find the right
balance between concrete rights for mothers and the current economic realities
facing businesses in the EU," Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Justice,
Fundamental Rights ? said after the vote held in Strasbourg.
The resolution will now go before the EU Council of Ministers for
discussion and approval. (end)
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