Pregnant women will have additional rights under a new Bill approved by the Cabinet.
The Minister of State for Justice, Mr Willie O'Dea, said yesterday that under the Maternity Protection Bill, expectant mothers can attend one set of ante-natal classes without loss of pay. Fathers will have a once-off right for paid time off to attend the two ante-natal classes immediately before the birth.
Mr O'Dea said the Bill would amend the Maternity Protection Act, 1994, to give effect to outstanding recommendations of the working group on the review and improvement of the maternity protection legislation which was published in February 2001.
"The Bill will enhance our maternity protection legislation and is a key statutory component of the work-life balance programmes to which this Government is committed," he added.
Under the Bill, breast-feeding mothers who have given birth within the previous four months will be entitled, without loss of pay, to either an adjustment of working hours or, where breast-feeding facilities are provided by the employer, breast-feeding breaks.
The Bill also provides for the termination of additional maternity leave, subject to the agreement of the employer, in the event of illness. The employee may also postpone the period of maternity leave or additional maternity leave, in the event of the hospitalisation of the child.
Also, an employee's absence from work on additional maternity leave will count for all employment rights associated with the employment such as seniority and annual leave.