Some have wondered if four months of maternity leave will result in more pregnant employees losing their jobs. Thankfully, new rules will be put in place to prevent this from happening.

From January 2009, employers who fire pregnant employees within the last six months of their pregnancy will be made to pay maternity leave benefits.

No further details have been revealed yet, but such a move is definitely necessary, considering how the number of complaints from pregnant women who lost their jobs actually rose the last time maternity leave was extended.

Acting Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong has also announced that the third and fourth months of maternity leave can be taken any time in the first year of the child's birth, which will be particularly good news for employers of smaller companies.