Maternity Leave and Annual Leave: Can Maternity Leave Count Towards Annual Leave Eligibility?

Eligibility of Maternity Leave for Annual or Privilege Leave
Female employees' service during maternity leave can be considered eligible for the allocation of annual or privilege leave. If yes, under which section and act can this be justified?

The period spent by a female employee on maternity leave (like any other eligible leave) will be considered as qualifying service for annual/privileged/earned leave in the succeeding year. However, she will not earn leave for days spent on maternity leave. Therefore, to determine whether she has worked for 240 days, the maternity leave days (including any paid leave days) will be counted. Once she qualifies for annual leave, the number of days of leave she is entitled to in the year will be decided by counting only the actual days she is physically present, without considering the maternity leave days.