EU Lawmakers Propose Voting Rights For Maternity Leave

European Parliament members who are pregnant or on maternity leave may soon be able to delegate their votes to colleagues. Lara Walters, an MEP for the Dutch Green Labour Party, is campaigning for the measure to modernize the parliament. Walters stated the change is necessary to help members combine parliamentary duties with new parenthood. The proposal would allow female MEPs to delegate votes for three months pre-birth and six months post-birth. European Union lawmakers are proposing changes to electoral acts to include voting rights related to maternity leave. The proposal involves both technical changes to rules of procedure and addressing political debates regarding parliamentary mandates. The Council of Ministers has given its approval regarding maternity leave rights. Independent and salaried mothers will now receive the same maternity leave, totaling one week. Protesters have expressed opposition to the government and employers regarding these changes. A national survey of 1,000 parents conducted last year indicated that extending maternity leave is the primary measure expected by self-employed mothers to balance work and family life. Data from the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI) shows that the vast majority of self-employed women utilize the 12 available weeks. The source noted that current mandatory weeks are largely considered insufficient by these workers.