http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-11340407
/// Under EU proposals to be voted on next month, women leaving work to have a child would be entitled to 20 weeks' leave on full pay.///
This proposal is absolutely ridiculous and could put many small businesses in the hands of the receivers.
In fact the present UK system of allowing mothers a year off, with the first six weeks on 90% pay, followed by 33 weeks on Statutory Maternity Pay of just under £125 a week., with the remainder unpaid, should be one of the first benefits to be axed.
A couple should plan when they start a family, with the knowledge that the mother will have to give up work, so she should first make up her mind, does she want to be a career woman or a mother?
I know this is going to set off the 'Women's Libbers', but why should a person's employer lose money because some of his female staff decide they want a baby?
If this comes about, I can see employers reluctant at taking on female staff of a child bearing age.