Work-life balance for parents and carers

Briefing 25-09-2017

This note seeks to provide an initial analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the European Commission impact assessment (IA) accompanying the above proposal, submitted on 26 April 2017 and referred to Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. The proposal is a follow-up to the withdrawal of the Commission's proposal to revise Council Directive 92/85/EEC (the Maternity Leave Directive). After the withdrawal, the Commission announced its intention to prepare a new initiative with a broader approach. The European Parliament has called in its resolutions for a comprehensive proposal from the Commission on work-life balance. In line with the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), the Commission conducted a two-stage consultation with the social partners on work-life balance. There was no agreement among social partners to enter into direct negotiations to conclude an EU level agreement. A roadmap for the new initiative was published in August 2015 and the initiative was included in the Commission's 2017 work programme within the framework of the European Pillar of Social Rights. The Commission's proposal for a directive is part of a package of measures aiming to address women's underrepresentation in employment by improving conditions to reconcile work and family duties. The proposal builds on existing EU legislation (especially Directive 2010/18/EU on parental leave), policies and best practices of the Member States in the area of work-life balance.