MEP Deirdre Clune has welcomed the increase in unpaid parental leave for families around the country.
The change, which comes in effect tomorrow, means that parents can take unpaid parental leave for up to 26 weeks per child under 12 years. This is up from 22 weeks under previous legislation.
Parents with children with disabilities can take 26 weeks up until their child is 16.
Ms Clune, MEP for Ireland South, said the changes were very welcome as families try to balance home and work life in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic and school openings.
She also called on employers to provide support to employees who have to work from home.
The MEP also said that as children head back to school this week, businesses need to support parents in the workforce as many will need flexibility.
Ms Clune said: “It can be hard managing family and work life for both men and women, especially during these times.
“That is why I am calling on businesses across Ireland, especially now as schools reopen, to put in place supports for employees and offer more options for flexible work practices should they require them.
“Many businesses have been fantastic to their employees during this Covid-19 crisis but we need to keep people in the workforce if we can and work together to achieve that,” she added.
Last year the European Parliament approved an EU Directive on work-life balance. A requirement of the directive extends the right to flexible working arrangements, such as remote working for employees returning from parental leave.
Member States, such as Ireland, have three years to implement this Directive.
The new Directive will extend the scope of flexible working arrangements which can be requested, by adding the option to request remote working.
