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Spain approves major reform for equality of sexes
Mar 15, 2007, 16:59 GMT
Madrid - The Spanish parliament Thursday passed a major legislative reform aimed at making women practically equal with men.
The law obliges political parties to have at least 40 per cent of female candidates on electoral lists.
Companies with more than 250 employees must include equality plans in their negotiations with trade unions, and it is recommended for large companies to increase the proportion of female members on their boards of directors to 40 per cent.
The law also introduces a specific paternity leave for men, which will be extended from 15 days to a month within eight years.
The law changed society 'for the better, radically and forever,' Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said.
The law was approved by all the parties except for the main opposition conservative People's Party (PP), which abstained, accusing the reform of serving propaganda purposes rather than solving 'real problems.'
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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