Work-life balance in the EU
14.7.2017
Question for written answer E-004894-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Monica Macovei (ECR)
In 2015, the Commission launched a first-stage consultation with EU social partner organisations on how to improve people’s work-life balance and reduce obstacles to women’s participation in the labour market. The consultation followed the recent withdrawal of the Commission’s 2008 proposal to amend the Maternity Leave Directive. Its purpose was to help people to balance their duties of care and professional responsibilities better, to encourage a fair use of work-life balance policies for women and men, and to support gender equality in the labour market. According to the latest OECD estimates, in 2015 the average number of hours worked per year in Denmark was 1 450 — almost 300 hours lower than in Italy. In 2016, the same figure surpassed 1 900 hours in Poland and Latvia, whereas in the Netherlands and Germany it was around 1 300 hours. In an attempt to address the challenges that the work-life balance poses to working parents and carers, the Commission adopted a European Pillar of Social Rights, which comprises 20 key principles.
What is the Commission doing to ensure that the European Pillar of Social Rights is transposed and implemented by the Member States?
Can it provide a report on the present work-life balance situation in each Member State?