Maternity Leave Extension to 26 Weeks : Rajya Sabha Passes Bill

TechnoparkToday.com>> The amendment of Maternity Benefit Bill – 2016, to increase the maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks was passed by Rajya Sabha on Thursday this week. The act is applicable to all establishments having 10 or more employees.

The bill will now go to Lok Sabha, passage of bill in the lower house will be followed by a notification sent to Labour Ministry. This is said to be one of the most awaited amendments supporting women during maternity.

Also the Act enables an option for nursing moms to work from home even after 26 weeks of maternity leave, depending upon their job profile and employer agreement.

The act approves 12 weeks maternity benefits to ‘commissioning mother and “adopting mother”. A commissioning mother is one who gets a baby via surrogate mothers. As this is a completely new provision that forms part of the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill 2016, which the labour ministry wants to be discussed and passed during the session of Parliament.

The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, protects the employment of women during the time of her maternity and entitles her full paid absence from work, to take care for her child.