As far as measures concerning women are concerned, there are two important provisions in the bill. The first provision contains criteria which allows a person who has paid premiums seven years out of ten to have been out of the job market for three years. Those years could include time spent on parental or maternity leave, or time spent away for other reasons. The second provision provides that special benefits are not included in the criteria relating to the 35 weeks. It does not include maternity, parental or other kinds of special benefits.
On October 6th, 2009. See this statement in context.