The European Council adopted the proposal for a Directive on work-life balance for parents and carers on 13 June 2019.
The European Commission decided to take a broader approach in addressing women’s underrepresentation in the labour market and the work-life balance challenges faced by working parents and carers encouraging better sharing of caring responsibilities between women and men.
The proposal includes the:
> Introduction of at least 10 working days paternity leave. Fathers/equivalent second parents should be able to take this leave around the time of birth of the child, compensated at least at the level of sick pay.
> Strengthening of the existing right to 4 months of parental leave, by making 2 out of the 4 months non-transferable from a parent to another, compensated at a level to be set by Member States and taken in a flexible way (e.g. part-time).
> Introduction of carers’ leave of 5 days per year for workers providing personal care or support to a relative or person living in the same household.
> Extension of the existing right to request flexible working arrangements (reduced working hours, flexible working hours and flexibility in place of work) to all working parents of children up to at least 8 years old, and all carers.