A step forward: New work-life balance package to improve the lives of working parents

26.04.17

Brussels - The European Commission has put forward an ambitious and comprehensive proposal on “Work-Life balance for working parents and carers”.

Make Mothers Matter has joined a Coalition of European NGOs to warmly welcome this initiative. We are pleased to see it reflect our demands for a life-cycle and transversal approach. We are convinced that this initiative has the potential to bring real change in the lives of many Europeans.

First, we welcome the initiatives improving the current leave schemes as well as provisions of quality, affordable and accessible care services and the introduction of the right to request flexible working arrangements. A demand from MMM since several years and a very important measure to enable working mothers to remain or re-entry the labour market.

Some of the measures included are particularly helpful, notably the introduction of a paid paternity leave of ten days at EU level and a minimum payment at sick leave level of parental leave and increased flexibility (it can be taken until 12 years of age of the child and full time or part time). Payment, flexibility and non-transferability have been proven crucial to increase take- up among fathers. The Directive introduces also a new carers’ leave of 5 days per year paid also at sick pay level.

For more information

Most read articles

MMM welcomes first ever Human Rights Council resolution on Care

11.10.23

UN Geneva, Human Rights Council - Entitled ‘Centrality of care and support from a human rights perspective’, this landmark resolution was presented by the governments of Argentina, Iceland, Mexico

Lire plus

Mothers, unpaid care work and global crises – connecting the dots

02.07.24

UN New York / HLPF - Register now to join us online at this year’s High Level Political Forum side-event.

Lire plus

Call to action: make 2024 the EU year for Women’s Mental Health

09.10.23

In June this year, the European Union (EU) Commission announced a new high-priority initiative to address the mental health of all Europeans.

Lire plus
See all the articlesof the category

News from the MMM European Delegation

Time Poverty and the Motherhood Penalty
Unveiling Economic and Social Injustices

09.07.24

Mothers play an essential role in families by ensuring their loved ones are nourished, educated, and healthy, but their unpaid care work often leads to economic and social injustices, known as the motherhood pe

Read more

Mothers Can-Bringing mothers back to work

13.05.24

MMM is working on the project “Mothers Can-Bringing mothers back to work”, a European partnership between six countries (Belgium, Cyprus, Germany, Romania, Spain and Greece). The project aims to support mot

Read more

La Hulpe Declaration: positive step for social justice in the EU

07.05.24

MMM welcomes the recent adoption of La Hulpe Declaration, under the Belgian presidency. This inter-institutional document aims at shaping the future social agenda of the European Union for the period 2024-2029.

Read more

Every mother should have access to the long-term care she needs and deserves

20.04.24

In a timely joint statement, we at Make mothers Matter, along with 16 European NGOs, have urged EU policymakers to prioritise long-term care in the upcoming 2024-2029 legislature. This call comes as the Belgian

Read more

Parental tools for mental wellbeing: join us in Brussels to find out the results

09.01.24

The "We Learn Everywhere" (WLE) project is a pioneering initiative that has made significant strides in promoting family well-being through education and support for parents and children across Europe. As this

Read more

Care on the move
The forgotten angle

04.04.23

Our Care on the Move conference took place at the European Parliament recently, where speakers from diverse backgrounds, ranging from academics, to policy-makers and representatives from civil society organizat

Read more