Irish maternity benefits among Europe's worst

Ireland and the UK have the lowest levels of statutory maternity benefits in western Europe, according to a new study.

The amount of paid maternity leave available to Irish women also lags behind many other European countries, even after it was extended to 22 weeks earlier this year, the study by Mercer Human Resource Consulting finds.

For women earning €22,000 a year, the total benefit accumulated after six months' maternity leave would be €5,850 in Ireland. This is higher than the €5,300 in the UK, but lower than other states in western Europe.

In France, Spain and The Netherlands, for example, accumulated benefit stands at €6,750, while women in Denmark and Norway accumulate benefits of €11,000. And because both the latter countries continue paying benefit after six months, their accumulated totals after a year rise to €22,000 and €18,192, respectively.

Mercer says that while many aspects of employment law are becoming standardised across Europe, there are still large discrepancies in maternity benefits.

Last March, paid maternity benefit in Ireland was increased from 18 weeks to 22 weeks, with a further increase to 26 weeks planned for next year. Entitlement to further unpaid leave was also increased, to 12 weeks, and this will rise to 16 weeks next year.

This is still less than the UK, which provides 26 weeks of paid maternity leave and at least 26 weeks of unpaid leave.

The highest level of entitlement is found in Scandinavian countries. Denmark allows for 50 weeks of paid leave, Norway 53 weeks and Sweden 96 weeks.

In contrast, women in France, The Netherlands and Spain are entitled to just 16 weeks' leave and German women get just 14 weeks.

Mark Sullivan, worldwide partner with Mercers in London, warned that the length of maternity leave did not necessarily correlate to the level of benefits paid.

"Some countries allow long periods of leave but give low pay, and not everyone can afford to take the extended leave no matter how generous it might appear.

"It is important to look beyond maternity leave and benefits and also consider the culture in different countries and how willing companies are to provide career opportunities to women both before and after they have children."