01/04/2007
Maternity Benefits Increase
MATERNITY BENEFITS INCREASE FROM 1st APRIL 2007
Lynette Vaughan, Legal Executive with Watkins & Gunn solicitors, explains the increased benefits coming into effect this month.
Working mothers with babies due on or after 1st April 2007 now have the following new rights:· One year’s maternity leave regardless of length of service with the employer (26 weeks ordinary maternity leave + 26 weeks additional maternity leave), but a minimum of 2 weeks (4 weeks for those who work in factories) maternity leave must be taken immediately following the birth.· The right to choose when to start her maternity leave. This usually will be any date from the beginning of the 11th week before the week the baby is due.
· Statutory maternity pay of 90% of their average weekly earnings for the first 6 weeks with no upper limit. In addition, the previous entitlement to a further 20 weeks statutory maternity pay has been increased to 33 weeks pay at the standard rate (presently £108.85) or 90% of a woman’s average weekly earnings, whichever is the lower.
· Optional keeping in touch (KITS) days have been introduced. A woman can now work up to 10 days during her maternity leave period, should she wish, for which she will be paid.
· The right to return to work after maternity leave, however, they will only have the right to return to the same job should they return to work after the first 26 weeks maternity leave. (Ordinary Maternity Leave).
· A woman intending to return to work early from Additional Maternity Leave must give 8 weeks notice instead of the previous 28 days notice (the second 26 week period).
Lynette Vaughan is a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives in Gwent-based firm Watkins & Gunn.
Further information on the firm’s legal services is available from Watkins & Gunn, Glantorfaen House, Hanbury Road, Pontypool, Torfaen, NP4 6XY, telephone 01495 762244 or by visiting the practice’s website at:- www.watkinsandgunn.co.uk
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