EU governments oppose plan to extend paid maternity leave

PROPOSALS to extend maternity leave on full pay to 20 weeks and give new fathers two weeks paid leave have been given the thumbs down by EU governments, including Ireland.

The European Parliament voted for the more generous conditions for pregnant workers, and those who gave birth recently or are breastfeeding, in October but they look unlikely to survive.

Only Spain and Portugal were enthusiastic about extending maternity leave, with most other countries arguing employers could not afford the additional costs.