Maternity and Parental Leave etc Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 come into force

Implementation date: 1 October 2006

The Regulations, together with provisions inserted into the Employment Rights Act 1996 by the Employment Relations Act 1999, confer new rights to maternity and parental leave. Changes include reducing the qualifying period for maternity leave from two years to one year and increasing ordinary maternity leave from 14 weeks to 18 weeks. The Regulations can be viewed on the OPSI website.