The new legislation, which includes the right to maternity leave, will come into force today for the first time. The new rules hope to improve the social protection rights of millions of women in the labour market, strengthening female entrepreneurship. At present only one in three entrepreneurs is a woman.

‘With the entry into force of this new law, Europe takes an important step forward in terms of increasing social protection and providing equal economic and social rights for self-employed men and women, and their partners,’ said Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship and Vice-President of the European Commission.

Reding added that she hopes for all Member States to start implementing the Directive swiftly so that our citizens can see the benefits in their daily lives.

The European Parliament approved the legislation on 18 May 2010 and it was endorsed by EU Member States on 7 June 2010.

It considerably improves the protection of female self-employed workers and assisting spouses or life partners of self-employed workers, particularly also in case of maternity. They are granted a maternity allowance and a leave of at least 14 weeks, should they choose to take it. At EU level, this is the first time a maternity allowance has been granted to self-employed workers.

The new rules also serve to encourage entrepreneurship in general and among women in particular. There is a currently a major gender gap in this area – only 30% of entrepreneurs in Europe are women.

Finally, the provision on social protection for assisting spouses and life partners (recognised as such in national law) is also a considerable improvement from the 1986 Directive. They will have the right to social security coverage (such as pensions) on an equal basis as formal self-employed workers, if the Member State offers such protection to self-employed workers. This will help provide a stronger social safety net and prevent women from falling into poverty.

EU Member States now have to introduce the Directive into their national laws within two years. Only when there are particular difficulties could this period be extended for another two years to implement the assisting spouses provisions.