The European Parliament wants to make it compulsory for assisting spouses to have social security cover. MEPs are also keen to strengthen the maternity leave rights of self-employed women and assisting spouses. The directive on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding has been referred back to the Women's Rights Committee.

MEPs adopted the with 550 votes in favour, 14 against and 57 abstentions, calling for rights for assisting spouses and boosting maternity protection for self-employed women and assisting spouses.
 
The draft directive defines "assisting spouses" as the spouses or life partners of self-employed workers, when recognised by national law, not being employees or business partners, where they habitually participate in the activities of the self-employed worker. They are often found in farming, commerce, SMEs and the liberal professions.
 
The Commission is proposing that social security cover should be voluntary but the Parliament argues that membership of social insurance schemes covering sickness, invalidity and old age should be made mandatory for assisting spouses. Indeed, when assisting spouses are offered the choice of being member or not of a social insurance scheme, they often chose not to join, MEPs say.
 
Moreover, Member States should ensure that female self-employed workers and assisting spouses are entitled to a period of maternity leave adapted to their needs, according to Parliament. The maternity leave should be of the duration of their choice provided that the total length does not exceed that specified in Directive 92/85/EEC on pregnant workers.  

Disagreement about parental leave legislation 

Concerning the other draft legislation of the family package, MEPs decided to refer back to committee the report  on the introduction of measures to encourage improvements in the safety and health at work of pregnant workers and workers who have recently given birth or are breastfeeding. The EPP-ED group argued that there would not be a compromise with the Council at first-reading and that positions within the EP are too different.

Members of the Committee on Women’s Right in the European Parliament proposed last month that maternity leave was extended in the EU until 20 weeks. At present, this leave lasts between 14 and 18 weeks. The Committee on Women's Rights also proposed that the new directive should reflect the need to maintain 100% of salary 6 weeks after birth and at least 85% in the rest of the period. Moreover, the new standard should also introduce paternity leave.