Prohibition on dismissal during or on account of absence from work owing to confinement

(1) When a woman absents herself from work under section 38 shall be lawful for the employer to dismiss her during or on account of such absence, or to give notice of dismissal on such a day that the notice will expire during such absence. (2) The dismissal of a woman at any time within six months before she is delivered of a child, if the woman, but for such dismissal, would have been entitled to maternity benefit under this Act, shall not have the effect of depriving her of such maternity benefit if the Inspector is satisfied that her dismissal was without sufficient cause.