Self-employed to gain maternity and pension benefits under new EU law
Self-employed workers and their spouses will enjoy better social protection – including the right to maternity leave for the first time – under new legislation endorsed by EU governments this week.
The new rules extend national social security provisions for the self-employed to their spouses working in the business, including wives working on the family farm, in their own right. It also provides for a period of maternity leave to be granted to self-employed women/spouses in line with minimum EU standards.
