Maternity benefits can be paid to a contributor who is pregnant. Section 25 of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act says a pregnant woman can take maternity leave at any time from 4 weeks before the expected date of birth and she may not work for six weeks after the birth. Benefits can be paid to a maximum of 121 days or 17.32 weeks in any period of 4 years. If an employee has applied for maternity benefits this does not affect her right to claim unemployment benefits.

To get maternity benefits the employee must satisfy the following conditions:

• The employee has been contributing to the fund and money has been deducted from her salary for uif every month
• The claim must be made at least 8 weeks before childbirth (or on good Cause shown).
• The claim must be made on the proper form.

If there is a miscarriage or a stillborn child, then benefits are paid for a maximum of 6 weeks after the miscarriage/stillbirth.

If the employee has been paid by the employer during the period when she was off on maternity leave, then the benefits paid by the Fund will be the difference between what the employer paid and the benefit that the employee would have been entitled to.