| 6.1. | Any Medical Condition, Examination or Procedure |
| 6.1.1. | A member may claim the basic salary or wage from the SPF for the period absent from work due to any medical condition, examination or procedure, within the payment period. |
| 6.2.1. | Female members of the SPF may institute a claim against the SPF for a maternity benefit which will be limited to:— |
| 6.2.1.1. | 30% {thirty percent) of the monthly basic salary or wage of a female member; |
| 6.2.1.2. | a period of 4 (four) months; |
| 6.2.1.3. | no more than 4 (four) children. |
6.2 2. the following provision shall apply to a claim in respect of a maternity benefit:
| 6.2.2.1 | the female member shall only be entitled to claim the maternity benefit upon the child being born; |
| 6.2.2.2 | the full maternity benefit will be paid by means of a once-off payment, calculated in accordance with the provisions of clause 6.2.1; |
6.2.2.3. should a child be stillborn, the 4 (four) month period as envisaged in clause 6.2.1.2 above will be limited to 2 (two) months, unless the Bargaining Council is favoured with a written motivation by a Psychologist or a Medical Practitioner justifying an increased period of absence, in which event the Bargaining Council may, in its sole and absolute discretion, increase the period, which period will not exceed the 4 (four) months. For purposes of this clause 6.2.2.3 "stillborn" is defined as a child that is delivered after 24 (twenty-four) weeks and weighs less than 500 (five hundred) grams.
| 6.2.2.4 | nothing contained in these rules shall be construed as to limit any female member claiming a maternity benefit, from not being able to also claim a maternity or other benefit during the payment period, from any other source, whatsoever. |
| 6.2.2.5 | a female member may only claim against the SPF for a maternity benefit after being a contributing member thereto for a continuous period of 12 (twelve} months i.e. if the child is born after the 12 (twelve) month period. |
