Maternity – Changes to Entitlements from April 2007

Introduction

The Work and Families Act (WFA) 2006 came into effect for women expecting their baby on or after 1 April 2007. Under the Act, Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and Maternity Allowance (MA) is payable for 39 weeks for babies due on or after 1 April and mothers will be entitled to a total of 52 weeks leave made up of 26 weeks ordinary maternity leave (OML) and 26 weeks additional maternity leave (AML), regardless of length of service. Up to 10 “keeping in touch” (KIT) days will be introduced whereby mothers can go into work and stay in touch with training and other developments without bringing maternity leave to an end or losing maternity pay.

Maternity Leave and Pay