Subject to this Part, a pregnant employee is entitled to leave, called 'maternity leave', from her employment for a minimum period of not less than 26 weeks, either as 26 consecutive weeks or as 26 weeks part of which is postponed in accordance with section 14B or section 14C, as appropriate.

Where, on or after 1 October 2017, the date of confinement occurs more than two weeks before the expected week of confinement, the employee referred to in subsection (1) is entitled to a further period of maternity leave equal to the duration of the premature birth period. The Minister may, by order made with the consent of the Minister for Social and Family Affairs and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, amend subsection (1) and section 13(2) so as to extend the periods mentioned.