
On the 18th of June, the
European Commission announced the possibility of withdrawal of the draft
maternity leave directive, in the context of the implementation of its
Regulatory Fitness and Performance programme (REFIT).
One of the main
objectives of this proposal is the extension of the maternity leave to 20
weeks, at a full paid salary, as well as the protection of women's rights upon
their return to work. The EU Parliament has adopted the draft directive in
2010, but it has never received the approval of the Council. For that reason,
in light of its smart regulation agenda, the European Commission has decided to
include the withdrawal of the maternity leave in the new initiatives for
simplification of EU. However, this proposal of the EU Commission has still to
be confirmed.