歐盟：產婦每天應有兩小時哺乳假

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Every mother who returns to work full-time must be allowed ‘breastfeeding breaks’ of up to two hours each day, according to the latest rules from Brussels。

Under proposals being considered by MEPs, mothers would also be given the right to work part-time for a year after having a baby, and be entitled to 20 weeks’ maternity leave on full pay。

The British Chambers of Commerce warned the measures could cost the Government £2.5billion, and ‘risk the position of women in the workplace’。

It warned taxes would have to rise to cover the extra costs, such as hiking VAT even higher to 20.5 percent。

Under the proposals, buried in Europe’s Pregnant Workers’ Directive, with which Britain would be legally obliged to comply if passed:

* Every mother who returns to work full-time must be allowed ‘breastfeeding breaks’ of two hours every day。

There is no cap on these breaks, which means they could continue for years if the woman decides to breastfeed beyond the traditional period。

* Mothers will have an ‘absolute right’ to a flexible job and will be entitled to work part-time for up to one year after they return to work。

* No boss will be able to force a woman to do a night shift or overtime in the ten weeks before her baby is born or during the breastfeeding period。

* Mothers will get full pay for the first 20 weeks of maternity leave. They currently get 90 percent of their salary for six weeks, followed by £128.73 a week for the next 33 weeks。

* It will also be compulsory to have at least six weeks off after giving birth, compared with two at the moment。

* Fathers would see paternity pay increased to two weeks’ on full pay. At present, they receive £128.73 a week for a fortnight。

British mothers returning to work can currently ask to work flexibly but a boss has the right to refuse if there is a clear business reason why it is not possible。

Phil McCabe, from the Forum of Private Business, said: ‘Business do want to accommodate mothers but such extreme measures would make it increasingly difficult for small firms. They are mad. There is a risk it would put off some business owners from employing women of child-bearing age.’根據位於布魯塞爾的歐盟訂立的新規定，每位休完產假回來全職工作的母親每天都必須有兩小時的哺乳假。

經歐洲議會成員考慮的這些提議指出，母親們還應享受產後一年內非全日工作的權利，而且應享受20周的全薪產假。

英國商務部警告說，這些措施將花費政府25億資金，並將使“女性在職場中的地位陷入危險”。

商務部警告說，爲了負擔額外的開支，將不得不提高稅收，例如將已經很高的增值稅調得更高，調至20.5%。

如果這些規定通過，英國將有法律義務遵循歐洲的“懷孕工人指令”的以下條款：

* 必須給予每位產後重回職場進行全職工作的母親每天兩小時的“哺乳假”。

休哺乳假的時間沒有上限，這意味着只要女性在傳統哺乳期結束後仍決定用母乳餵養小孩，她們就能夠連續好幾年休哺乳假。

* 母親們將擁有彈性工作時間的“絕對權”，在迴歸職場後一年內她們將能享受非全日工作的權利。

* 在孩子出生10周前和哺乳期間，任何一位上司都不能強迫女性去值夜班或加班。

* 在產假的頭20周內母親們將能享受全薪待遇。目前她們在產假的前6周能得到90%的薪水，在隨後的33周每週的薪水是128.73英鎊。

* 在生產後，母親們將至少必須休6周產假，而目前這一強制性產假爲2天。

* 父親們將能享受更多的產假工資，全薪產假爲兩週。目前他們在兩週產假內每週的薪水是128.73英鎊。

迴歸職場的英國母親們現在可以提出彈性工作時間的請求，但是如果有明確的業務原因使其無法實現，上司有權拒絕這一請求。