Maternity Leave - Changes

Start Dates

Women whose Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC) begins on or after 6 April 2003 benefit from the new maternity leave provisions.

Women whose Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC) is on or after 6 April 2003 benefit from the new leave rights even if their babies are born earlier than expected.

The changes to maternity leave provisions do not apply to women whose Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC) is before 6 April 2003, even if their babies are born later than expected on or after 6 April 2003.

Length of maternity leave

The length of ordinary maternity leave is increased and pregnant employees are entitled to 26 weeks' ordinary maternity leave, regardless of how long they have worked for their employer.

Ordinary maternity leave is normally paid leave.

Women who have completed 26 weeks' continuous service with their employer by the beginning of the 14th week before their Expected Week of Childbirth (EWC) can take additional maternity leave. Additional maternity leave starts immediately after ordinary maternity leave and continues for a further 26 weeks.

Additional maternity leave is usually unpaid although a woman may have contractual rights to pay during her period of additional maternity leave.