Jamaica Maternity Leave Act explained

 

Written by: Damalio Powell

The Jamaican Maternity Leave Act is an Act that was made active or operational on December 31, 1979. The act aims to provide protection for female employees against discrimination in the workplace.

Qualification

To qualify for maternity leave an employee should be at least 18 years of age and must be employed by her employer for a minimum of 52 weeks. Seasonal female employees need to be employed by their employer for at least 52 weeks over a 5-year period.

Minimum Time Span 

Maternity leave in Jamaica should have a time span of at least 12 weeks, 8 of which should be with pay and 4 weeks without pay. 

A female employee can apply for 2 additional weeks, on the basis that she can present a medical certificate due to illness of her child or illness from her pregnancy. 

An employer also has the right to request that a medical examination be done by his or her employee with a registered medical practitioner, chosen and paid for by that employer on the basis that the employee seeks the additional 2 weeks. 

Not Entitled  

An employee is not entitled to maternity leave if she fails to give 2 weeks’ notice before the expected starting date.

An employee is not entitled to maternity pay if she was previously granted maternity leave with pay 3 or more times. 

Return to work

An employee must give her employer a minimum of 3 weeks’ notice of her return to work