Maternity Benefits

(1) Subject to subregulations (2) and (2A) below, a female officer shall be entitled to a total of fourteen weeks’ maternity leave which shall be on full pay. Maternity leave shall be taken as follows– (a) up to a maximum of seven weeks before the expected date of confinement on full pay; (b) the balance after the expected date of confinement on full pay; (c) two weeks before and seven weeks after the date of confinement shall be mandatory. (2) A female worker who, during the twelve months immediately preceding her expected date of confinement was employed in the service of the Government of Belize for total of less than one hundred and fifty (150) days shall be granted maternity leave without pay. Such leave shall not be considered as ‘service’ for pensionable purposes. (2A) All applications for maternity leave shall be submitted at least six weeks prior to the worker’s expected date of confinement and shall be accompanied by medical certificate stating the expected date of confinement. (3) Any payments made under subregulation (1) of this regulation shall be made to the worker in the normal pay periods applicable to her. (4) A female worker who is entitled to the benefits set out in subregulation (1) of this regulation shall be entitled to free attendance by a Government Medical Officer and/ or a certified Belize Constitution 193 Public Health Nurse during her pregnancy and confinement. The term “confinement” shall, for the purpose of this subregulation, include any illness which can be attributed to the confinement. (5) No female worker shall be given notice of dismissal during, or to expire during, any period of absence from work in accordance with the provisions of subregulation (1) of this regulation or any further period of absence, not exceeding thirty days, due to illness certified by a qualified medical practitioner, to arise out of the worker’s pregnancy or confinement.