EU to vote on increasing paid maternity leave

A PLAN to give women longer maternity leave on full pay is being fought by businesses in the EU.

Women’s groups are arguing the extra cost would be offset by more women returning to work after having babies — and would help increase the population.

But business and some governments, led by Britain and Germany and supported by Ireland, argue that it would cost too much and would militate against women of child-bearing age being employed at all. The issue has split politicians in the European Parliament ahead of today’s vote and the outcome is far from clear.