The key elements of statutory maternity leave

Statutory maternity leave divides into three parts:

• compulsory maternity leave: this is the first two weeks (or four weeks in the case of factory workers) from birth. A woman must take this leave;

• Ordinary Maternity Leave (OML): this is the first 26 weeks, and is inclusive of the two compulsory weeks;

• Additional Maternity Leave (AML): this is a further period of 26 weeks and follows on immediately after the OML.