ABSTRACT
European Union (EU) social policy law is designed to protect potentially vulnerable workers through a variety of measures. These measures have dual social and economic aims. They have a social aim in that they clearly aim to protect vulnerable workers. But they also have an economic aim in that they are designed to co-ordinate employment policy across the EU. Directive 89/391 is a 'framework' Directive which lays down general principles on health and safety of workers. Article 2 of the Pregnant Workers' Directive applies to 'pregnant workers', 'workers who have recently given birth' and 'workers who are breastfeeding'. Under Article 7, Member States are required to ensure that all workers listed in Article 2 'are not obliged to perform night work during their pregnancy and for a period following childbirth'. Under Article 8(1), pregnant workers are entitled to 'a continuous period of maternity leave of at least 14 weeks allocated before and/or after confinement'.
