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