05.04.19
The EU Directive on Work-Life Balance for parents and family carers gained a very large majority, in the European Parliament on the 4th of April 2019 (490 votes in favor, 82 against, 48 abstentions). The main aim of the proposal is to enable parents and people with caring responsibilities to balance their work and family life better. It will also encourage a sharing of caring responsibilities between men and women.
After almost two years of negotiations, the Directive has been voted in the European Parliament. Since its publication by the European Commission in April 2017, we at MMM have been actively following the legislative process and engaging with policymakers to voice the needs and concerns of mothers and families. Our actions included advocating on social media using #iwantworklifebalance.
A.M. de Mathelin, O.Michelena, Marie Arena, David Casa, J. Schima
We are proud of this achievement and thankful to other European NGOs through the Alliance for the joint work we have been able to do. Everyone’s contribution has brought about this progress and improvement in the European legislative framework. The directive is particularly relevant to families in Member States currently benefiting from insufficient measures to promote a better balance between work and family life. With the European Union elections on the horizon (23-26 May 2019) it is important to show families that the EU has taken into account their needs by adopting legislation to improve the current situation in efforts of achieving a more Social Europe.
The Directive represents a minimum standard for all EU countries that must be considered as such. However, it represents an improvement of the situation for families in all countries, to a greater or lesser degree, depending on what their current situation is. Nothing prevents Member States from raising this standard.
We are advising the civil society at the national level and in particular, our member associations in all countries, to ask for more about the implementation of this directive into national legislation which will happen in the next 3 years after the formal adoption that is expected in June.
This is to be welcomed as it is a real step torwards the improvement of the work-life balance policies which benefit mothers and families, as well as better recognition and remuneration of the care provided by families. The agreement includes the following measures:
We regret, however, that this agreement does not take into account:
We hope that this will be included in the working programme of the next European Commission.
Text adopted in the European Parliament.
More general information on the Work-Life Balance initiative is available here.
03.07.21
UN New York / HLPF - Register now to join us virtually at this year’s High Level Political Forum side-event.
21.09.21
August 15th saw the collapse of the Afghan government and a return to power by the Taliban. At MMM, like much of the rest of the world, we were shocked
19.07.21
UN New York / HLPF - A look back at our side-event to the UN High Level Political Forum
30.05.22
International Labour conference, Geneva – To redress the economic injustice suffered by many mothers as a result of their caring responsibilities, MMM has called for a new approach to employment: a human-cent
18.05.22
In these unprecedented times, when Europe is navigating a global pandemic, when political tensions are boiling over threatening to destabilize the global order, it is vital to reflect on the people who hold the
10.05.22
The European Commission (EC) has announced its new plan to develop a European Care Strategy expected to strengthen long-term care and early childhood education and care, as envisaged under the European pillar o
26.04.22
We are delighted to be launching our new podcast series An almost Perfect Mother featuring Isabelle Roskam, professor of development and parenting psychology at the University of Louvain, Belgium. Isabelle spec
20.12.21
UN Geneva - MMM answer to a consultation by the UN Special Rapporteur on poverty on social protection focuses on maternity protection and support to families, identifying gaps and addressing non take-up in thes
21.09.21
To advocate for the needs and expectations of mothers in relation to the French government's forthcoming reform on the #1000premiersjours (#First1000Days), MMM France was determined to hear and consult them fir