16.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), an employee’s maternity leave period shall continue for the period of fourteen weeks from its commencement or until the birth of the child, if later.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3), where any requirement imposed by or under any statutory provision, other than a provision for the time being specified in an order made under Article 26(3), prohibits her working for any period after the end of the period mentioned in paragraph (1) by reason of her having recently given birth, her maternity leave period shall continue until the expiry of that later period.
(3) Where an employee is dismissed after the commencement of her maternity leave period but before the time when (apart from this paragraph) that period would end, the period ends at the time of the dismissal.
(4) The Department may by order vary any of the provisions of this Article.