Q&A Maternity & Paternity

The change, under the Work and Families Act, increases Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) currently paid to mothers from 26 weeks to 39 weeks.

The number of days which can be worked during maternity leave without losing entitlements has also been increased.

The plans are backed by the Institute of Directors and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI).

More extensions

Under the changes, mothers will get 90% of salary for six weeks, and then a maximum of �112.75 a week for another 33 weeks.

Women will also be able to go into work for a total of 10 days during their maternity leave without losing their SMP entitlement.

The period of notice for returning to work from maternity leave will be extended to two months from the current 28 days, to make it easier for businesses to plan their staffing needs.

The act also allows the government to introduce a right for fathers to ask for up to 26 weeks unpaid paternity leave.

The government is aiming to further increase the total period of SMP will be extended from 39 weeks by the end of parliament.

SMP is paid by employers and then reimbursed by the Treasury.

The CBI says it accepts the principle of extending family friendly rights but says compensatory changes would be needed to make up for the "increasing burden" for businesses.

The business body added that introducing up to ten 'keeping in touch' days, gave "welcome clarity" and would help new mothers return to work.

"It is absolutely right that both the employer and employee must agree to the mother working any keeping in touch days," said the CBI's director of human resources policy, Susan Anderson.

"This will allow both parties flexibility and a way of managing a return to work that suits them. It also means women could keep abreast of major changes at work, such as training or promotion opportunities."

Harbottle and Lewis employment lawyer, Joanne Twiss, told the BBC that women now had an automatic right to return to work, even at small businesses which previously had exemptions from that part of the law.

"That is going to affect them - people who haven't necessarily got the resources to sort of restructure and get in other people. That could be difficult for them and I think could be problematic," she said.