Statutory maternity pay is given to employees on maternity leave, provided that they had 26 weeks of employment at the 14th week before the birth, and were earning over a certain minimum amount. Employers may pay additional, non-statutory, wages during the maternity period.

The amount of statutory maternity pay varies from year to year, but the first 6 weeks are usually paid at 90% of salary with a statutory amount thereafter.

Statutory maternity pay is only available during the first 39 weeks of maternity leave.