The first 8 weeks of Adoption Leave (AL) must be taken as a continuous block because newly adopted infants require intensive care and attention in the initial weeks following adoption. This applies even when a mother has opted for the flexible (non-continuous) leave arrangement for the remaining weeks.

AL provisions are modelled after Government-Paid Maternity Leave (GPML), as both schemes share the same broad intent — to support mothers in caring for and bonding with their infants during this critical early period.