Minimum maternity leave in the EU should be extended from 14 to 20 weeks with full pay, with some flexibility for countries which already have a form of family-related leave, the European Parliament decided on October 20 2010.

An entitlement to paid paternity leave of at least two weeks was also approved by a majority of members.

A majority of MEPs voted in favour of extending the minimum maternity leave from 14 to 20 weeks, thus going beyond the European Commission's proposal to extend it to 18 weeks, in a resolution drafted by Edite Estrela (S&D, PT) and adopted by 390 votes in favour, 192 against and 59 abstentions.

However, MEPs adopted amendments adding that, when family-related leave is available at national level, the last four weeks of the 20 may be regarded as maternity leave and must be paid at least at 75 per cent of salary.

In October 2008, the Commission proposed to review the current legislation (directive 92/85), as part of the "work-life balance" package, based on ILO Maternity Protection Convention of 2000.

MEPs backed the Commission's proposal that out of the total maternity leave, six weeks should be taken after childbirth.

Workers on maternity leave must be paid their full salary, which must be 100 per cent of their last monthly salary or their average monthly salary, states the adopted resolution.

Under the Commission's original proposal, workers would receive 100 per cent remuneration during the first six weeks of maternity leave.

For the remainder of the leave, the Commission recommended granting full pay. This was not to be a binding provision but the amount paid was to be no less than sick pay.

The draft legislation seeks to lay down minimum rules at EU level. Member states may introduce or keep existing rules that are more favourable to workers than those laid down in the directive.