Maternity and Paternity Leave
DESCRIPTION: |
Female employees have a right to four months maternity leave. This leave can start four weeks before the expected date of birth and the employee cannot be forced to go back to work for six weeks after the birth of the child. An employee who bears a still-born child may remain on maternity leave for six weeks after the still birth or a longer period if a medical practitioner states that it is necessary for her health and safety. Maternity leave may be paid or unpaid. If the employee has been contributing to the Unemployment Fund, she will be able to claim benefits during the period that she is on maternity leave. An employer may appoint a temporary employee to perform the duties of the employee while she is on maternity leave. Fathers can claim three days family responsibility leave on the birth of their child. Adoptive parents can each claim three days family responsibility leave on the adoption of a child. |
INSTRUCTIONS: |
If you are planning to take maternity or paternity leave, you should inform your employer of the expected date of the arrival of your child. Employees on maternity leave also need to inform their employers in writing of when they expect to return to work. Fathers and adoptive parents who want to take family responsibility leave may be required to provide proof of the need to take leave. |
PROVIDED BY:
|
GOVERNMENT BODY:
|
Department of Labour (The Government of South Africa) |
The content on this page was last updated on 17 May 2005
|
|
Cape Gateway is a government service aimed primarily at citizens of the Western Cape, providing information on local, provincial and national government |  |