The idea of increasing parental leave from six to nine months was welcomed by MPs present at a public debate in the Chamber of Deputies on Wednesday. The ministers present, however, were not so enthusiastic.

More than 4,800 people had signed a petition calling for an extension of parental leave from six to nine months. On Wednesday, Michèle Senninger and Anne Heintz defendeded the merits of extending the leave to full-time.

The two women were evidently well prepared and could rely on the support of a large part of the MPs present at the debate.

The plenary session was attended by three different committees as well as Minister for Family Affairs Corinne Cahen (DP) and Minister of Labour Georges Engel (LSAP).

The petitioner, Michèle Senninger, focused on the consequences of a "premature" return to work, highlighting the risks of depression and burn-out among parents, particularly mothers.

She brought up the issue of breastfeeding in the workplace, pointing out that "infrastructures and schedules are not always adapted" to the provisions of Luxembourgish law (2x 45 minutes per day).

She also deplored the fact that some parents, including herself, have no choice but to ask for unpaid leave after the period of parental leave provided for by law.

"Time cannot be reclaimed. We're not going to get any more of it, and we're not going to get it back," she concluded, referring to the time parents can currently devote to their newborns.

RTL

© Baby in white onesie by  Unsplash/ Alex Bodini

None of the MPs who spoke on Wednesday formally opposed Senninger's statements. MP Fred Keup from the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (adr) was in favour of extending parental leave and went even further by imagining a system that would accompany children until the age of 12.

"Children must be at the centre of our thinking when we make decisions, we must go much further," he said.

MPs Simone Asselborn-Bintz (LSAP), Marc Goergen (Pirate Party), Francine Closener (LSAP), and Djuna Bernard (Green Party) all agreed with the petitioner but raised more practical issues.

On the other hand, the two ministers present, Corinne Cahen and Georges Engel, expressed reservations about extending parental leave to full-time. Cahen said that while she understands the petitioner's request and reasoning, she wonders "how do you want to finance it?"

Cahen did not wish to speak "on behalf" of the Minister of Finance but recalled that parental leave "costs the State a lot of money." Rather than extending the duration of parental leave, the minister pleaded for "more flexibility." She proposed in particular that women be allowed to take the five months of maternity leave at their convenience.

"I was lucky enough to be pregnant and in good shape. I could have worked until I gave birth. In such cases, the mother should be free to choose whether to take her five-month maternity leave following the birth, for example," Cahen suggested.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Labour stated that this is a "very complex issue" and that an extension of parental leave "is not easy to implement." According to Engel, "most employers" are satisfied with the system put in place in 2016. As for comparisons with systems that grant longer parental leave, he was keen to point out that these often involve "unpaid leave."

The Minister for Family Affairs was quick to add that Luxembourg is "well placed" in terms of remuneration.

Anne Heintz, a signatory of the petition who appeared alongside Michelle Senninger, responded to the government representatives by saying that "an investment families is always a good investment.

The conclusion of the debates will take place behind closed doors. More information will be provided by the Chamber of Deputies later today.