Maternity Benefit Entitlement
Section 5, subsection (3) of the Act defines the maximum period for which any woman shall be entitled to maternity benefit as twelve weeks. This includes six weeks up to and including the day of her delivery and six weeks immediately following that day.
Right to Payment of Maternity Benefit
(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, every woman shall be entitled to, and her employer shall be liable for, the payment of maternity benefit at the rate of the average daily wage for the period of her actual absence immediately preceding and including the day of her delivery and for the six weeks immediately following that day.
Explanation: For the purpose of this subsection, the average daily wage means the average of the woman’s wages payable to her for the days on which she has worked during the period of three calendar months immediately preceding the date from which she absents herself on account of maternity.
Reading of the Act provides this information.