Is maternity leave for 6 months now or 9 months

Hi

The rules are changing from 1 April 2007 - if your baby is due after this date, you can take up to 39 weeks paid maternity (it was initially 26 weeks, or six months). The last three months must be taken as additional leave with your employer, if you want the full nine months. You get six weeks pay at 90% of usual pay, then something like £108 (I think this is going up to £112 ish soon) per week after that. I'm due Sept 27th and will probably just take the six months, I'm going to really miss the money my job brings in!! Culture shock in store, I think!

In Australia you are entitled to 12 months maternity leave

In South Africa it is 4 months. Poor us!

If you are then its 9 months if you are starting maternity leave after april.

It seems very complicated and depends who you work for. If you are in Uk and your baby is due after 1/4/07 then you get 9 months paid maternity leave and your job must be kept open for you to return to for a total of 12 mths.

If you work for a council of educatrion authority they have different rules etc. Your employer might also have certain conditions. Check your contract

Hope this helps a little.