Self-employed workers to gain maternity and pensions benefits

Self-employed workers to gain maternity and pensions benefits

Self-employed workers will be entitled to maternity leave and pensions benefits for the first time under new laws introduced by the European Union (EU). The new rules are designed to encourage more women into entrepreneurship. Self-employed workers will be given equivalent access to maternity leave as employees, but on a voluntary basis. The EU is expected to adopt the legislation on 24 June. EU countries will then have two years to introduce it into national law.

For more on this story go to:
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/10/699&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en