The European Union (EU) has announced plans to give female workers the right to full pay when on maternity leave. The proposed directive plans to increase the minimum maternity leave period from 14 to 18 weeks, which is still less than the current UK statutory minimum of 39 weeks, but Brussels intends that the new mothers would receive 100% of their salary for that time. At the moment, UK mothers get 90% salary for 6 weeks then £117 per week for the next 33 weeks.
The UK government has pledged to resist the proposals as the costs to business to would be substantial. In effect the rate of maternity pay could treble which might result in businesses avoiding taking on young, female employees. There is also a fear that women already in work would find their promotion prospects seriously hampered. If the legislation is approved Britain would have 2 years to implement the law.
