
1 

(1) These Regulations, which extend to Great Britain, may be cited as the Maternity (Compulsory Leave) Regulations 1994 and shall come into force on 19th October 1994.
(2) In these Regulations “childbirth” means the birth of a living child or the birth of a child whether living or dead after twenty-four weeks of pregnancy.
2 
An employee entitled to maternity leave in accordance with Part III of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978, shall not work, or be permitted by her employer to work, during the period of two weeks which commence with the day on which childbirth occurs.
3 

(1) Subject to paragraph (2) below, the enforcement and offences provisions of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and the provisions of the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1989 shall apply to the prohibition imposed upon an employer by regulation 2 above as if the prohibition had been imposed by regulations made under section 15 of that Act.
(2) An employer guilty of an offence consisting of a breach of a prohibition imposed on him by regulation 2 above shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale.
Signed by order of the Secretary of State.
James Paice
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State,
Department of Employment
21st September 1994