Self-employed people and their partners are to receive the right to maternity and paternity leave for the first time, thanks to new EU legislation.

One in three women are entrepreneurs and the Directive on Self-Employed Workers and Assisting Spouses will ensure full equality between men and women, allowing them at least 14 weeks’ leave and maternity allowance.

Approximately 16% of workers in Europe are self-employed and EU member states will have to introduce the new directive into their national laws within the next two years.