Feuer Frei!
06-26-11, 09:26 AM
Controversial EU plans to offer new mothers 20 weeks of maternity leave on full pay are to be shelved today.
Critics say the proposals will make businesses reluctant to take on young women.
And last year a European Commission study found that the plans would more than double the cost of maternity leave in the UK and cost the economy £2.5billion a year extra.
The plans were backed by the European Parliament last year, but British ministers believe they have secured the support of enough countries to block the proposals when they are put to a vote of European employment ministers today.
The ministers are expected to vote for the plans to be put out for further study – effectively kicking them into the long grass.
UK Employment Minister Chris Grayling said: ‘The proposals that MEPs put forward are costly for the UK. When member states are trying to balance their books in difficult times this is the wrong approach to adopt.’
SOURCE (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2004482/EUs-increase-paid-maternity-leave-20-weeks-pay-halted.html)
Critics say the proposals will make businesses reluctant to take on young women.
And last year a European Commission study found that the plans would more than double the cost of maternity leave in the UK and cost the economy £2.5billion a year extra.
The plans were backed by the European Parliament last year, but British ministers believe they have secured the support of enough countries to block the proposals when they are put to a vote of European employment ministers today.
The ministers are expected to vote for the plans to be put out for further study – effectively kicking them into the long grass.
UK Employment Minister Chris Grayling said: ‘The proposals that MEPs put forward are costly for the UK. When member states are trying to balance their books in difficult times this is the wrong approach to adopt.’
SOURCE (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2004482/EUs-increase-paid-maternity-leave-20-weeks-pay-halted.html)