The Women's Rights Committee of the European Parliament has voted in favour of extending the minimum entitlement to maternity leave across Europe to 20 weeks on full pay. The European Parliament will vote on the proposal on 25 March. Currently, UK legislation provides all employees with a year's maternity leave, with eligible employees entitled to 6 weeks' at 90% of pay, a further 33 weeks at the statutory rate (currently £123.06 a week) and the remainder unpaid. The potential cost implications of an increase to twenty weeks at full pay are causing concern, with the Institute of Directors estimating that the UK Government or businesses would have to meet additional costs in the region of £1.5 to £2 billion a year.