Commentary on Sections Part One: Statutory Leave and Pay Adoption leave and Statutory Adoption Pay Section 17: Maternity Leave
38.In May 2001, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced that ordinary maternity leave would be increased to 26 weeks, followed by 26 weeks additional maternity leave, giving most mothers up to one year’s maternity leave in total. These changes will be made in regulations.
39.This section amends Section 71(4) of the Employment Rights Act 1996 to enable the regulations to address the implications of the extension to maternity leave when a woman is returning to work.