European Parliament out to mother mothers

“The EU has a finger in every pie,” editorialises Dagens Nyheter, reacting to the European Parliament Women’s Rights Committee proposal to extend maternity leave. Varying from 14 to 28 weeks in the EU, this figure could be fixed at a minimum of 20, with six of them obligatory after giving birth. “The idea of a law requiring women to take six weeks off after giving birth does not go down well. Maternity leave is not an obligation but a right. There may be good reasons for a woman to go back to work, and it’s up to her to decide, not the EU.” The fact that MEPs from southern Europe are championing this bill, adds the Dagens Nyheter, goes to show “they are trying to use the EU to put reforms across in their own countries”.