Sixty per cent of working mums will be worse off under the Productivity Commission’s paid maternity leave scheme, due to the fact that they earn more than the minimum wage it will pay out. In contrast 30 per cent will be paid more while on maternity leave as they work part time and earn less than the flat minimum wage rate that has been proposed for the scheme. The new proposal covers 18 weeks paid maternity leave at a flat rate of $543 a week, and yet as over 60 per cent of woman earn more than this it will leave them financially worse off if they plan to care for their baby and not return to work in those 18 weeks.