6. WORKING PARENTS AND CARERS

Every woman in work has the right to maternity leave (although not necessarily paid). There are three types of leave:

• ordinary maternity leave (OML) — 26 weeks;

• compulsory maternity leave — two weeks within the period of OML (four weeks in the case of factory workers) immediately following the birth, which must be taken; and

• additional maternity leave (AML) — a further 26 weeks.

Any woman who qualifies for OML also qualifies for AML — the additional qualifying conditions having been removed. To get OML a woman must still be in work into the 15th week before the baby is due. By the 15th week she has to have given her employer notice of her pregnancy and of the date when she intends to begin her maternity leave.