Citizenship changes and employment arrangements
A non-citizen child generally attracts 12-week Employment Act leave where eligible. If the child becomes a citizen and all GPML criteria are met within 12 months of birth, only the remaining unexpired leave is available from qualification and must finish before age 12 months. MOM’s example: birth 10 August 2013, citizenship 10 February 2014, no more than 8 weeks previously taken; with agreement, 8 flexible weeks can be used by 9 August 2014.
Special situations
The mother’s nationality does not by itself bar 12-week Employment Act leave or 16-week GPML for a citizen child. Single/unmarried mothers may qualify for up to 16 weeks. Contract, temporary or part-time staff qualify under the same criteria, paid at gross rate for normally scheduled workdays; probationary staff also qualify after 3 months before birth.
| Situation | Treatment |
|---|---|
| Twins/triplets | One delivery; benefits do not multiply by babies |
| Premature birth | Start on birth date or earlier by agreement, if eligible |
| Stillbirth or death shortly after birth | Full maternity leave; a qualifying GPML stillbirth counts for the next maternity-benefit child order, otherwise does not |
| Abortion or miscarriage | No maternity leave; an employed mother may take eligible sick leave to recover |
| Illness during maternity leave | No paid sick leave concurrently |