AN160290 – Sheet Metal Workers' Award No. 10 of 1973
(1) Eligibility for Maternity Leave
A worker who becomes pregnant shall, upon production to her employer of a certificate from a duly qualified medical practitioner stating the presumed date of her confinement, be entitled to maternity leave provided that she has had not less than 12 months' continuous service with that employer immediately preceding the date upon which she proceeds upon such leave.
For the purposes of this clause:
(a) A worker shall include a part-time worker but shall not include a worker engaged upon casual or seasonal work.
(b) Maternity leave shall mean unpaid maternity leave.
(2) Period of Leave and Commencement of Leave
(a) Subject to subclauses (3) and (6) hereof, the period of maternity leave shall be for an unbroken period of from twelve to 52 weeks and shall include a period of six weeks' compulsory leave to be taken immediately before the presumed date of confinement and a period of six weeks' compulsory leave to be taken immediately following confinement.
(b) A worker shall, not less than 10 weeks prior to the presumed date of confinement, give notice in writing to her employer stating the presumed date of confinement.
(c) A worker shall give not less than four weeks' notice in writing to her employer of the date upon which she proposes to commence maternity leave, stating the period of leave to be taken.
(d) A worker shall not be in breach of this order as a consequence of failure to give the stipulated period of notice in accordance with paragraph (c) hereof if such failure is occasioned by the confinement occurring earlier than the presumed date.
(3) Transfer to a Safe-Job
Where in the opinion of a duly qualified medical practitioner, illness or risks arising out of the pregnancy or hazards connected with the work assigned to the worker make it inadvisable for the worker to continue at her present work, the worker shall, if the employer deems it practicable, be transferred to a safe job at the rate and on the conditions attaching to that job until the commencement of maternity leave.
If the transfer to a safe job is not practicable, the worker may, or the employer may require the worker to, take leave for such period as is certified necessary by a duly qualified medical practitioner. Such leave shall be treated as maternity leave for the purposes of subclauses (7), (8), (9) and (10) hereof.
(4) Variation of Period of Maternity Leave
(a) Provided the addition does not extend the maternity leave beyond 52 weeks, the period may be lengthened once only, save with the agreement of the employer, by the worker giving not less than 14 days' notice in writing stating the period by which the leave is to be lengthened.
(b) The period of leave may, with the consent of the employer, be shortened by the worker giving not less than 14 days' notice in writing stating the period by which the leave is to be shortened.
(5) Cancellation of Maternity Leave
(a) Maternity leave, applied for but not commenced, shall be cancelled when the pregnancy of a worker terminates other than by the birth of a living child.
(b) Where the pregnancy of a worker then on maternity leave terminates other than by the birth of a living child, it shall be the right of the worker to resume work at a time nominated by the employer which shall not exceed four weeks from the date of notice in writing by the worker to the employer that she desires to resume work.
(6) Special Maternity Leave and Sick Leave
(a) Where the pregnancy of a worker not then on maternity leave terminates after 28 weeks other than by the birth of a living child then -
(i) she shall be entitled to such period of unpaid leave (to be known as special maternity leave) as a duly qualified medical practitioner certifies as necessary before her return to work, or
(ii) for illness other than the normal consequences of confinement she shall be entitled, either in lieu of or in addition to special maternity leave, to such paid sick leave as to which she is then entitled and which a duly qualified medical practitioner certifies as necessary before her return to work
(b) Where a worker not then on maternity leave suffers illness related to her pregnancy, she may take such paid sick leave as to which she is then entitled and such further unpaid leave (to be known as special maternity leave) as a duly qualified medical practitioner certifies as necessary before her return to work, provided that the aggregate of paid sick leave, special maternity leave and maternity leave shall not exceed 52 weeks.
(c) For the purposes of subclauses (7), (8) and (9) hereof, maternity leave shall include special maternity leave.
(d) A worker returning to work after the completion of a period of leave taken pursuant to this subclause shall be entitled to the position which she held immediately before proceeding on such leave or, in the case of a worker who was transferred to a safe job pursuant to subclause (3), to the position she held immediately before such transfer.
Where such position no longer exists but there are other positions available, for which the worker is qualified and the duties of which she is capable of performing, she shall be entitled to a position as nearly comparable in status and salary or wage to that of her former position.
(7) Maternity Leave and Other Leave Entitlements
Provided the aggregate of leave including leave taken pursuant to subclauses (3) and (6) hereof does not exceed 52 weeks:
(a) A worker may, in lieu of or in conjunction with maternity leave, take any annual leave or long service leave or any part thereof to which she is then entitled.
(b) Paid sick leave or other paid authorised award absences (excluding annual leave or long service leave), shall not be available to a worker during her absence on maternity leave.
(8) Effect of Maternity Leave on Employment
Notwithstanding any award, or other provision to the contrary, absence on maternity leave shall not break the continuity of service of a worker but shall not be taken into account in calculating the period of service for any purpose of the award.
(9) Termination of Employment
(a) A worker on maternity leave may terminate her employment at any time during the period of leave by notice given in accordance with this award.
(b) An employer shall not terminate the employment of a worker on the ground of her pregnancy or of her absence on maternity leave, but otherwise the rights of an employer in relation to termination of employment are not hereby affected.
(10) Return to Work After Maternity Leave
(a) A worker shall confirm her intention of returning to her work by notice in writing to the employer given not less than four weeks prior to the expiration of her period of maternity leave.
(b) A worker, upon the expiration of the notice required by paragraph (a) hereof, shall be entitled to the position which she held immediately before proceeding on maternity leave or, in the case of a worker who was transferred to a safe job pursuant to subclause (3), to the position which she held immediately before such transfer. Where such position no longer exists but there are other positions available for which the worker is qualified and the duties of which she is capable of performing, she shall be entitled to a position as nearly comparable in status and salary or wage to that of her former position.
(11) Replacement Workers
(a) A replacement worker is a worker specifically engaged as a result of a worker proceeding on maternity leave.
(b) Before an employer engages a replacement worker under this subclause, the employer shall inform that person of the temporary nature of the employment and of the rights of the worker who is being replaced.
(c) Before an employer engages a person to replace a worker temporarily promoted or transferred in order to replace a worker exercising her rights under this clause, the employer shall inform that person of the temporary nature of the promotion or transfer and of the rights of the worker who is being replaced.
(d) Provided that nothing in this subclause shall be construed as requiring an employer to engage a replacement worker.
(e) A replacement worker shall not be entitled to any of the rights conferred by this clause except where her employment continues beyond the twelve months qualifying period.
