Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-10-23-Speech-2-242"
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"en.20011023.11.2-242"2
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"Mr President, I should like to thank Mrs Hautala for a good piece of work. If it had only depended upon herself, the result could certainly have been still better, but we have to be able to live with compromises, and these are important steps that are now being taken to move closer to equality in Europe.
The right to equal conditions at the workplace is a fundamental right and should go without saying. That is unfortunately not the case. The issue is one of human dignity and of avoiding harassment, something with which everyone ought to agree. In spite of this, we know that many women in Europe are at present exposed to sexual harassment on a daily basis. A genuine change in attitude is needed, but also clear and vigorous legislation if we are to create equal opportunities in working life. The present values also lead to large discrepancies in salaries between men and women.
I nonetheless think it is important to say that equal opportunities for men and women are not in actual fact only a women’s issue. It is an issue that affects us all, irrespective of our gender. Rights are needed which make it possible for both mothers and fathers to combine professional and family life. Maternity and paternity leave must obviously be brought into line with each other. My own experience teaches that equality must begin in the home. I sometimes think that the Committee on Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities does not do enough to include us men in its view of equality. I think that that is a pity and is in danger of delaying more resolute work for equality within the European Union.
I should like to conclude by saying that I feel dissatisfied with Amendment 7. I do not think that the wording goes far enough. Every mother and father must be entitled to return to her or his
work after parental leave. I emphasise his or her
work. The wording
is not enough, for there is then a risk of employers less conscious of their responsibilities exploiting this opportunity to create worse conditions for parental leave. Unfortunately, there are many such examples in my own country, too. I should therefore have liked to have seen clearer wording.
Allow me an additional ten seconds – given that Mrs Lulling was given an extra two minutes – and allow me to say to the latter that my marriage would
have survived if my wife and I had not shared the parental leave equally.
In view of the fact that Mrs Lulling spoke so clearly, all of us in this House understand that Amendment 17 will of course be supported by Mrs Lulling, and for that I am very grateful. Thank you."@en1
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"work of equal value"1
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