Maternity back-pay boost for mothers

Thousands of working mothers-to-be could be entitled to maternity pay totalling millions of pounds following a rules shake-up.

The European Court of Justice has decided women should receive any pay rises awarded during the three month run-up to maternity leave, and for their six months paid maternity leave entitlement.

British law had allowed employers to set maternity pay rates based on an eight-week period between the fifth and sixth months of pregnancy. They were entitled to refuse to factor in any subsequent pay rises, even if employees would have earned the higher rate when they returned to work.