Meusac core group suggests transitional period to cushion directive's effect

The EU directive that will increase maternity leave from 14 to 18 weeks will require a transitional period before it comes into effect, the Malta-EU Steering Action Committee (Meusac) core group said.

Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said noted that, following a meeting yesterday, the core group had advised that there should be a transitional period in order to cushion the effect of the directive on the market and employers.

During the meeting, various measures proposed by the European Commission were discussed. These were primarily aimed at encouraging improvements in the health and safety of pregnant workers and employees who had recently given birth or were breastfeeding.

While much of the discussion centred on the maternity leave extension, Mr Said explained that other proposals were raised, among them the right of women to choose to take the non-compulsory portion of the leave entitlement before or after childbirth.

According to Maltese law, the compulsory portion of the six-week maternity leave must be taken immediately after childbirth.

The proposed directive also provides effective legal protection against victimisation where individuals exercise their rights under the directive.

Two other proposed directives were discussed: one on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons, irrespective of religion, belief, disability, age or sexual orientation, and another on equality between self-employed men and women.

All three directives provide for a two-year period within which member states must transpose the directives into law.