New Directive On Work-Life Balance

A new Directive, known as the Work Life Balance Directive, has been proposed to repeal the existing Framework Agreement on Parental Leave, made binding by Council Directive 2010/18/EU. In January 2019, the Presidency of the Council and the European Parliament reached a provisional agreement on some key elements of the proposal for a directive on work-life balance for parents and carers. This agreement still needs to be approved by member states.

The Work Life Balance Directive contains proposals with regards to paternity, parental and carers' leave. All working parents with children up to at least eight years old and all carers will also be given the right to request flexible working arrangements including reduced working hours, flexible working hours and flexibility on the place of work.