Company fears over maternity leave Euro proposals

EUROPEAN proposals on maternity leave are likely to have a damaging impact on businesses, according to Sheffield Chamber of Commerce.

By The Newsroom

Published 21st Sep 2010, 22:20 BST

Updated 21st Sep 2010, 22:20 BST

Richard Wright, a member of the Chamber Board and a former president, said that an amendment by the Women's Rights Committee of the European Parliament to extend maternity leave to 20 weeks on full pay would harm companies when they were struggling to recover from the recession.

He added: "If the proposals go through, it is going to be a huge cost

to business just when they need to be free to develop and grow.

"It is hardly removing red tape and creating the correct environment for business and enterprise which is what this government is said to be doing. Before the amendment was introduced, the original proposal was to extend leave from 14 to 18 weeks but with individual member states allowed to decide the level of pay and this seems to be a more affordable option."

Richard Wright