The European Commission has tabled a proposal to extend the minimum parental leave to four months across all 27 member states.

In Malta this will mean extending the present three-month maximum by another month.

Mothers are currently entitled to 14 weeks of maternity leave and can also make use of parental leave beyond this period. However, they will only be able to take three months of it, with the husband having to take the extra month.

Fathers, on the other hand, can take all four months - a move designed to promote shared responsibility.

The measure will affect parents working in the private sector because civil servants already benefit from longer leave entitlements through their collective agreement.

Member states are expected to approve this proposal during a meeting of social policy ministers next December. This would make it possible for the new law to come into effect in 2011.

The Commission's proposal was tabled following an agreement between the Commission and European social partners representing business, trade unions, SMEs and public servants.

Working parents were originally given the right to parental leave in a 1995 agreement between European employers and trade unions.

Under the new proposal, an employee applying for or taking parental leave would be protected from any form of discrimination for doing so, while employees returning from parental leave would have the right to ask for changes to their work schedules for a limited period.

In considering such requests, employers would be obliged to balance the needs of the employee and the company.

In the case of adoptions or children with disability or long-term illness, governments, employers and unions would be obliged to assess the specific needs of their parents.

The agreement is the latest in a series of decisions being taken by the EU to increase the work-family balance and to encourage fathers to share more the responsibility of child upbringing with mothers.

Currently, the EU is also discussing a possible increase in the minimum entitlement of paid maternity leave from 14 to 18 weeks. This discussion is still ongoing and the terms of the final proposal may be watered down by member states, which fear extra costs.

Just last May the European Parliament postponed a vote on this draft, arguing that it did not provide a solid basis for MEPs to conclude an agreement with the Council. The draft legislation is now expected to be back on the employment ministers' table by the end of this year.

How will parents benefit?

• Longer leave (many EU countries currently offer only three months) and better protection against discrimination.

• Encouragement for fathers to take on more family responsibilities because the fourth month cannot be transferred to mothers and would be lost if not taken.

• More women in the workforce because it would become easier to share family responsibilities.

• Employees returning to work will be more protected against discrimination thanks to specific measures, such as employers keeping in touch with them during the leave period to ensure they are aware of key developments while away.