Work-life balance
Reconciliation of professional, private and family life is an important issue for FEMM and in 2015 it re-launched attention to an holistic approach in reconciling work-life balance and to prompt the EU to step up its work in this field. There is a need to modernise the existing EU legislation, as well as to strengthen the coordination between Member States in order to ensure a level playing field regarding the costs and benefits of reconciliation policies.
The main current challenges include lack of accessible, available and affordable quality care services as well as the lack of paid leave arrangements for fathers or the insufficient incentives for fathers to use them as compared to mothers.
- European Parliament resolution of 13 September 2016 on creating labour market conditions favourable for work-life balance
- EP Policy Department study: Differences in Men's and Women's Work, Care and Leisure Time
- Commission's Roadmap: New start to address the challenges of work-life balance faced by working families
- EP Press release on agreement between EP and Council
- Confirmation of agreement between EP and Council
- EP resolution on Care services in the EU for improved gender equality, based on FEMM report
- Council General approach on the Commission's proposal for a directive on work-life balance for parents and carers (press release)
- European Parliament mandate based on EMPL report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on work-life balance for parents and carers
- FEMM opinion for EMPL on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on work-life balance for parents and carers