Working arrangements for parents

Finally, two submissions made recommendations related to working arrangements for parents (SJI and ICTU). ICTU welcomed the intention to extend the Parent’s Benefit to 5 weeks, and asked that trade unions are consulted and involved in the process of fully transposing the Work Life Balance Directive into national law. They called for an increase in paid parental leave to 26 weeks to give parents the choice of staying at home during the first year of their child’s life, and suggested giving all workers a legal right to flexible working, including the right to work from home. SJI also called for:

increased investment in paternity and parental leave entitlements to meet the commitment in First Five to enable children to be cared for at home by fathers and mothers during their first year” and “to deliver on the European Pillar of Social Rights Work Life Balance initiative.