Vodafone is introducing a worldwide minimum level of maternity pay in an effort to better support and retain more new mums.
The communications firm said It was to offer women 16 weeks of fully-paid maternity leave, plus full pay for a 30-hour week for the first six months after their return to work.
Vodafone, which employs around 100,000 people in 30 operating companies across Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the US, said the policy would be in place by the end of 2015.
It was aimed particulalry, the company said, at more than 1,000 female employees every year who work for it in countries with little or no statutory maternity care.
Chief executive Vittorio Colao said: "Too many talented women leave working life because they face a difficult choice between either caring for a newborn baby or maintaining their careers.
"Women account for 35% of our employees worldwide, but only 21% of our international senior leadership team. We believe our new maternity policy will play an important role in helping to bridge that gap.
"Supporting working mothers at all levels of our organisation will ultimately result in better decisions, a better culture and a deeper understanding of our customers' needs."
Its policy was inspired by research is commissioned showing that global businesses could save a combined £12.5bn annually by providing 16 weeks of fully-paid maternity leave.
It found recruiting and training new employees to replace women who leave the workforce after having a baby costs almost £31bn.
The group already offers a greater number of weeks of full pay to women on maternity leave in the UK and this will not be affected as the new policy offers a minimum rather than standardising terms across the world.
UK rules grant employees statutory maternity pay for up to 39 weeks, with 90% of average weekly earnings for the first six weeks, and the lower of £138.18 or 90% of earnings for the remaining 33 weeks.
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