Section 7 of the Principal Act is amended -

(a) in subsection (1) -

(i) in paragraph (a), by deleting "or", and

(ii) by inserting the following after paragraph (a):

"(aa) subject to subsection (1A), 2 separate periods -

(i) each consisting of not less than 6 weeks, and

(ii) not exceeding 14 weeks in total, or",

(b) by inserting the following after subsection (1):

"(1A) Subject to subsection (1B), where parental leave in respect of a child is taken by an employee pursuant to subsection (1)(aa), then in respect of that child the employee is not entitled to take the second period of parental leave unless not less than 10 weeks have elapsed since the first period of parental leave ended.

(1B) The employer concerned (or representatives of the employer and other employers) and the employee concerned (or representatives of the employee and other employees) may agree to a shorter period than the 10 weeks referred to in subsection (1A), either in a particular case or a class of cases.",