Maternity and Work
Maternity Leave
A female employee is entitled, within every three years, to at least eight weeks’ maternity leave on full pay. In the event of illness certified by a registered medical practitioner, arising out of pregnancy or confinement, affecting the employee or her child, the employer must grant the employee additional paid leave as the employer may deem fit.
Source: §47 of the Employment Act (No. 6 of 2000), last amended in 2021
Income
Every pregnant worker is entitled to a fully paid 8-week maternity leave. Maternity leave is paid by the employer.
During maternity leave, the worker’s normal benefits and entitlements, including her contractual rights and accumulation of seniority, continue uninterrupted, and her period of employment is not considered to have been interrupted, reduced or broken.
Source: §47 of the Employment Act (No. 6 of 2000), last amended in 2021
Pregnancy Testing / Inquiry in Recruitment
No explicit provisions on pregnancy testing/ inquiry in recruitment could be identified within the law. However, the Employment Act prohibits discrimination based on birth, along with other grounds, in hiring, training, and promoting workers. Section 49 of the Employment Act prohibits dismissal on the grounds of pregnancy
Source: §5 of the Employment Act (No. 6 of 2000), last amended in 2021
Free Medical Care
No provisions on free medical care for pregnant workers could be identified within the law.
Regulations on Maternity and Work
- Employment Act (No. 6 of 2000), last amended in 2010
