(Adds PL's reaction)

The legal notice extending maternity leave by four weeks over a two year period was published today, bringing these regulations into effect as from Sunday.

The initiative, promised in the last budget, was discussed with the social partners within the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development.

The regulations specify that uninterrupted maternity leave should be increased to 16 weeks as from next January 1 and to 18 weeks as from January 1, 2013.

Employees on maternity leave on Sunday would have their leave automatically increased to 16 weeks. Those on maternity leave on January 1 next year would also have their leave automatically extended to 18 weeks.

Amendments to be moved to the Social Security Act will specify that the payment for these additional weeks will be at a fixed rate of €160 a week, to be paid by the government.

The same legal notice also introduces the concept that workers cannot be forced to work overtime during pregnancy and for 12 months after the birth or adoption of a child.

This right superceded any other law, regulation, order, collective agreement or contract.

The development was welcomed by the Labour Party which said it was a U-turn for the government as it had opposed the extension in the European Union.