Parental leave

SUMMARY OF:

Directive 2010/18/EU on the revised framework agreement on parental leave

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE?

It implements the revised framework agreement on parental leave concluded by the European social partners on 18 June 2009.

KEY POINTS

Workers are entitled to parental leave on the birth or adoption of a child. Such leave may be taken until the child has reached an age determined by national law and/or collective agreements, but before the age of 8.
This directive applies equally to all workers, men and women, irrespective of their type of employment contract (open-ended, fixed-term, part-time or temporary).
Parental leave must be granted for a period of at least 4 months as an individual right of both parents. In principle, workers should be able to take all of their leave. It should therefore not be transferable from one parent to the other. However, such transfers may be authorised on the condition that each parent retains at least 1 of the 4 months of leave, with a view to encouraging a more equal uptake of parental leave by both parents. The directive sets minimum standards so that EU Member States can apply or introduce more favourable rules.

Taking of leave

The conditions of access to leave and the circumstances for taking leave are defined by national law and/or collective agreements. For example, Member States and/or social partners may:
- provide for the granting of leave on a full-time or part-time basis, in a piecemeal way or in the form of a time-credit system, taking into account both employers’ and workers’ needs;
- make the right to parental leave subject to a length of service qualification, which must not exceed 1 year, and, where applicable, that period must be calculated taking account of all the successive fixed-term contracts concluded with the same employer;
- define the circumstances under which the employer is authorised to postpone leave for justifiable reasons related to the operation of the organisation;
- authorise special arrangements to ensure the proper operation of small businesses.
Workers wishing to take parental leave must give notice to the employer. The period of notice must be specified in each Member State, taking into account the interests of both workers and employers.
The directive also encourages Member States and/or social partners to define additional measures and/or the specific conditions for the taking of leave by adoptive parents and parents of children with a disability or a long-term illness.

Return to work and non-discrimination

After taking parental leave, workers must have the right to return to the same job. If that is not possible, the employer must provide them with an equivalent or similar job that is consistent with their employment contract or employment relationship.
In addition, rights acquired or in the process of being acquired by the worker on the date on which parental leave starts:
- must be maintained as they stand until the end of the leave;
- must apply at the end of the leave, as must all changes arising from national law, collective agreements and/or practice.
Similarly, workers must be protected against less favourable treatment or dismissal on the grounds of an application for, or the taking of, parental leave.
Member States and/or the national social partners decide on all matters regarding social security and income in relation to parental leave. Therefore the agreement does not include rules on the payment of salary or compensation during parental leave.
Lastly, on their return from leave, workers must be able to request changes to their working hours and/or patterns for a set period of time. Employers have to consider and respond to such requests, taking into account both employers’ and workers’ needs.

Leave on the grounds of ‘force majeure’ (unforeseeable circumstances)

Workers may also request leave on the grounds of force majeure for family reasons. Such leave may be requested, in particular, in cases of sickness or accident making the immediate presence of the worker within the family indispensable.

Repeal

The directive will be repealed by the work–life balance directive (2019/1158/EU) with effect from 2 August 2022.

FROM WHEN DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY?

It has applied since 7 April 2010 and had to become law in the Member States by 8 March 2012.

The directive will be repealed by the work–life balance directive (Directive (EU) 2019/1158 – see summary) with effect from 2 August 2022.

BACKGROUND

This agreement follows the framework agreement of 14 December 1995 on parental leave, which was given legal effect by Council Directive 96/34/EC.

It represents a means of better reconciling workers’ professional and parental responsibilities and of promoting equal treatment between men and women.

It is implemented by a Council directive in accordance with Article 155(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

For further information, see:

EU rights to work – life balance (European Commission).

MAIN DOCUMENT

Council Directive 2010/18/EU of 8 March 2010 implementing the revised Framework Agreement on parental leave concluded by BUSINESSEUROPE, UEAPME, CEEP and ETUC and repealing Directive 96/34/EC (OJ L 68, 18.3.2010, pp. 13–20).

Successive amendments and corrections to Directive 2010/18/EU have been incorporated into the basic text. This consolidated version is for reference only.