Proposals aimed at increasing the amount of maternity leave to which women are entitled at full pay to 20 weeks have been rejected by the European Council.

Voted in favour of by the European Union (EU) Parliament in October, the Council has now rejected the recommendations in favor of an initial suggestion of 18 weeks following a birth or adoption.

The plans have been put forward by the European Commission and were discussed during a meeting of the Council on December 6th, with the Belgian Presidency announcing the results of talks.

An initial proposal from the Commission was amended by the EU Parliament on October 20th to provide 20 weeks of fully paid maternity leave and two weeks paternity leave, in addition to legislation to ban discrimination against pregnant women and protect their health and safety at work.

Recommendations on how the plans will proceed are due to be announced before the end of 2010.

The UK government and seven other EU nations signed a collective statement raising concerns about the provisions of the Pregnant Workers Directive, in particular the "considerable and unacceptable additional costs" providing 20 weeks of leave could lead to.

Posted by Alex Donnell