Leave

The Maternity and Parental Leave Regulations 1999 were laid before parliament on 4 November and took effect on 15 December 1999. The regulations introduce a right to parental leave, based on Council Directive 96/34/EC [1] (TN9801201S [2]), and improve existing maternity leave arrangements. The

A new law which came into force in Spain in November 1999 reforms the whole set of rules on family-related leave arrangements, and completes the transposition of the EU Directives on maternity protection and parental leave.

Legislation approved by Italy's Chamber of Deputies in October 1999 transposes the EU Directive on parental leave into Italian law. The most innovative aspects of the new law are that it increases leave to 10 months within the first eight years of the child's life, and encourages the use of parental

During 1999, seven companies in the Ericsson telecommunications group became covered by an agreement concluded by the parent company with the Union for Technical and Clerical Employees in Industry (Svenska Industritjänstemannaförbundet, SIF), the Association of Graduated Engineers (Sveriges

New legislation at the approval stage in the Portuguese parliament in May 1999 will improve existing provisions on parental and family leave and protection for women undergoing a high-risk pregnancy. The legislation, which partly transposes the EU parental leave Directive into Portuguese law

The Labour government views its "family-friendly" policies as a major initiative underpinning its efforts to reconcile flexibility, competitiveness and improved employment rights. The Employment Relations Bill [1] (UK9902180F [2]), published in January 1999 and due to become law in the summer

The collective agreement concluded for the paper and pulp industry in January 1998 by the Employers' Federation of Swedish Forest Industries (Sveriges Skogsindustriförbund, SSIF) and the Swedish Paper Workers' Union (Pappersindustriarbetareförbundet, Pappers), as well as providing for a pay increase

On 16 March 1999, the European Commission adopted a report (COM(1999)100 final [1]) on the implementation of the EU Directive on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the health and safety at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding