Clause 7

in subsection (4), replace paragraph (b) with —“(b)within 12 months commencing on the date of the child’s birth, ceases to be actively engaged in his trade, business, profession or vocation during one or more than one period, all of which in aggregate are equal in duration to —

twice his weekly index or 12 days, whichever is the lower; or

in the case of a specified self‑employed man defined in subsection (13), 4 times his weekly index or 24 days, whichever is the lower; and”;

in subsection (12), replace “This section and section 12I” with “This section (except for subsection (4)(b)(ii)) and section 12I (except for section 12I(4)(b)(ii))”; and

after subsection (12), insert —“(13) In subsection (4)(b)(ii) and section 12I(4)(b)(ii), “specified self‑employed man” means a self‑employed man who is —

the natural father of a child born alive, where the mother’s confinement in respect of the child occurs on or after 1 January 2024, or the estimated delivery date for that confinement is on or after that date; or

the adoptive father of a child, where the eligibility date of the application to adopt the child is on or after 1 January 2024.”.