An employee may apply for maternity leave for an uninterrupted period of fourteen weeks. She has to notify the employer at least four weeks before the maternity leave begins, in so far as is reasonably practicable.

Maternity leave is availed of as follows:

(a) six weeks of the maternity leave entitlement to be taken compulsorily immediately after the date of confinement;

(b) four weeks of maternity leave to be availed of immediately before the expected date of confinement, unless agreed otherwise between the employer and the employee;

(c) the remaining balance of entitlement to be availed of, in whole or in part, either immediately before or immediately after the above periods, as the employee may request:

If she is unable to avail herself of the maternity leave entitlement before the date of confinement, the balance of entitlement may be used after confinement.

An employee on maternity leave shall be entitled to 14 weeks maternity leave with full wages.