Maternity and parental leave - Our second feature in this issue analyses the new statutory provisions that extend and simplify existing rights to maternity leave and introduce a new right to parental leave. Women expecting babies on or after 30 April 2000 are eligible to take 18 weeks' "ordinary maternity leave" and, if they have been with their employer for a year, ,,additional maternity leave" of 29 weeks from the start of the week in which they give birth. The parents of a child bom or adopted on or after 15 December 1999, who have been with their employer for a year, can take 13 weeks' unpaid leave to care for the child, generally during the five years following the birth or adoption.