For the first time, professional women’s soccer players in England will benefit from maternity and long-term sickness coverage in a historic change to their contracts.
In a landmark shift, Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship players will be guaranteed maternity leave, a provision that was previously left up to individual clubs.
Finally… a lot of hard work,conversations + meetings to make this happen. @PFA + @MCBouchier thank you! https://t.co/5rGz2393Eo— Steph Houghton MBE (@stephhoughton2) January 27, 2022
Finally… a lot of hard work,conversations + meetings to make this happen. @PFA + @MCBouchier thank you! https://t.co/5rGz2393Eo
“Over the last 16 months, the PFA has been working with the FA to address the significant disparities between the contractual rights and obligations of male and female players in English club football,” said Marie-Christine Bouchier, the Professional Footballers Association’s director of women’s football.
The PFA and FA have yet to disclose the details of the policy change.
“The PFA’s aim has been consistent throughout these talks — to ensure contractual parity for our female members compared to the men’s game,” Bouchier continued. “There is much still to be achieved, but these policy changes represent important milestones in what are ongoing discussions.”