(25 January 2019) – Today, the European Parliament and the Council reached a provisional agreement on the European Commission’s proposal for a new Directive on work-life balance for parents and carers.
.To address the challenges that working parents and carers face in reconciling work and family responsibilities, the European Commission proposed the ‘Work-life Balance’ Initiative in April 2017. This initiative is a key deliverable of the European Pillar of Social Rights.
The Directive on work-life balance sets a number of new or higher standards for parental, paternity and carer’s leave, and the right to request flexible working arrangements.
It takes account of the needs of small and medium-sized companies and makes sure that they are not disproportionately affected.
The new Directive is complemented with policy and funding measures, supporting Member States in enforcing existing dismissal protection legislation, developing formal care services and addressing economic disincentives for second earners to work.