Welcome of a proposal to increase maternity leave to 18 weeks in the E.U.

Vladimír Špidla, E.U. Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, is going
 to sumbmit a proposal for a directive on the 8th October to increase the maternity leave
from currently 14 weeks to 18 weeks in all the countries of the E.U. The proposal will also include
 a directive to secure the full monthly salary to the mothers during the maternity leave period.

A longer maternity leave will have a positive reaction on the child and will also help the women 
to remain active.

The actual directive dates from 1992 and establishes a break of 14 weeks,