Maternity Leave Dilemma: Can You Get Annual or Paid Leave During This Time?

During the 6-month maternity leave, the employee may be eligible for Annual Leave (AL) or Paid Leave (PL) in that period.

Hi, Earned or Paid Leave is credited based on an employee's presence on duty for a certain period. The Maternity Benefit Act provides social security for a period that does not depend on actual physical presence for duties. Therefore, a female employee will receive Earned Leaves during her Maternity Leave as well.

Maternity Leave and Annual Leave Eligibility

While an employee is on maternity leave, why would she require another leave during the same period? If your question is whether the maternity leave period of 6 months will count towards annual leave eligibility for the next year, then the answer is yes. The period a female employee spends on maternity leave will be considered as days worked for eligibility for annual leave in the following year. An employee needs to work 240 days to be eligible for annual leave. Therefore, the maternity leave days will be recognized as days worked. However, the number of annual leave days earned will depend on the days physically present for work. This means that the employee will not accrue leave for the days she was on maternity leave.

Eligibility of Earned Leave During Maternity Leave

Female employees cannot get Earned Leave (E.L.) during the Maternity Leave period. However, the leave duration will be considered for the purpose of calculating eligibility for E.L.