Once again, a progressive initiative by the Commission has been watered down by the Member States

A year ago, we were cheered up by this transformative proposal: the Directive on work-life balance for parents and carers. Barbara Helfferich's article soundly analised the package of legislative and non-legislative initiatives on work-life balance that the European Commission put forward. (Read the article here)

After a full year in the Council, it is deemed too costly, .....and governements are not willing to help fathers to share the burden of caring for the family members who need it, de facto continuing to force women out of the labour market.

You can read some of the reactions in national newspapers:

-Le Monde: "Pourquoi la France s’oppose à une meilleure indemnisation du congé parental"

-Liberation: "Congé parental : Paris père fouettard de l’UE"

-El Pais: "Una directiva para las familias del siglo XXI"

And the European Council's position:

-Press release: Leave and flexible work for parents and carers: Council agrees general approach on the draft directive on work-life balance

-EPSCO: social policy and health, 21-22/6/2018, main results