Progress on Work-Life Balance breathes life into Social Europe

The European Trade Union Confederation  (ETUC) welcomes the conclusion of the trilogue discussions on the Work-Life Balance Directive. The provisional agreement reached contains a number of positive elements, including paid paternity and parental leave, currently missing at EU level.

Said ETUC General Secretary Luca Visentini, “Although we regret the lengthy implementation period set, we consider this first legislative output of the European Pillar of Social Rights to be  a positive signal to EU citizens that Social Europe is alive and back on track."

"The ETUC will carefully assess the various provisions contained in the agreed text and calls on all the legislators to endorse the measures and implement them rapidly. This would bring concrete benefits for many European workers and their families and enhance gender equality.” said ETUC Confederal Secretary Montserrat Mir.