"Women are entitled to be supported for the time they need while having a child. Those first months with a baby are undoubtedly precious – yet maternity leave differs enormously across Europe. Last year I wrote on this very subject for Cif and said that much of the UK's maternity provision was poor. However, I am concerned that the legislation MEPs will vote on on Wednesday, which seeks to increase minimum maternity leave across Europe from 14 weeks to 20 weeks, will leave many women in Britain – especially low-paid women on the minimum wage – worse off financially." (Quoted from article)