欧洲议会近期通过一项立法草案，拟将欧洲妇女的全薪产假由目前的14周延长至20周，该草案将在3月初的欧洲议会全体会议上进行表决。英国等部分欧盟成员国对此表示反对，称目前各国的相关法案运行良好，能够保证员工和公司双方的利益，完全没有必要出台新规。英国商会人士表示，目前应该做的是为怀孕员工设定健康和安全的最低标准，而不是为已经饱受金融危机打击的公司增加经济负担。另外，有人也表示此项法规的出台可能会导致雇主对育龄期女性的歧视，从而产生用工方面的不平等待遇。

Draft legislation has been passed by a committee of the European Parliament to extend maternity leave across Europe to 20 weeks on full pay.

Draft legislation has been passed by a committee of the European Parliament to extend maternity leave across Europe to 20 weeks on full pay.

Current European rules give women 14 weeks leave fully paid.

In the UK, women get a year off, with the first six weeks on 90% pay, followed by 33 weeks on Statutory Maternity Pay. The rest is unpaid.

The 20-week proposals will now go before the full European Parliament in early March.

There are concerns that employers could discriminate against women of a child-bearing age if the rules are passed.

'Totally unnecessary'

The UK's Employment Relations Minister Lord Young expressed his doubts about the proposals.

"We already have a generous system which is better than many European Union countries and works well, balancing the needs of businesses and workers," he said.

"A substantial increase in maternity leave paid at full or near-full pay risks undermining this delicate balance at a time when economies across the EU can least afford it."

Business groups also voiced their concerns about the additional cost to companies of extra maternity payments.

The Institute of Directors estimated that the cost to UK businesses of the new rules could be between £1.5bn and £2bn a year.

Dr Adam Marshall, at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: "The Pregnant Workers Directive should be about setting minimum EU standards for the health and safety of pregnant workers - not adding new payroll costs for overburdened companies and national social security systems.

"This vote introduces complexity and uncertainty, which are totally unnecessary, as the UK and other EU countries already have well-developed national maternity pay systems."

'Reverse effect'

However, there is no certainty that the proposals will be passed by the European Parliament.

BBC Europe Business reporter Nigel Cassidy said it was "unlikely" that the proposals would be passed, mainly because of the current economic climate.

He pointed out that similar proposals - for 20-weeks maternity leave but with just 6 weeks at full pay - were voted out by the Parliament about 18 months ago.

"Conservatives and liberals felt the proposals would have the reverse effect and discourage employers from taking women on," he said.

相关阅读

英国：产假延长 企业叫苦不迭

欧盟禁止使用“小姐”、“夫人”称呼女性

各种“假日”的英文表达

(Agencies)

（中国日报网英语点津 Helen 编辑）