Good News! New Maternity Bill Puts Maternity Leave At 26 Weeks.

The fresh new Maternity Bill approved by the Parliament ups the maternity leave to 26 weeks from 12 weeks, that is more than double. With this, India comes a close third in country rankings for the highest maternity leave; after Canada (50 weeks) and Norway (44 weeks).
 

The Bill was passed in the Loksabha on Thursday, the 9th of March, just a day after International Women’s Day. Labour Minister, Bandaru Dattatreya said - "This is my humble gift to women, a day after the world celebrated International Women's Day. He also said, that while framing rules, they will see to it that even pregnant women get maximum benefits.

The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 in essence protects the employment of women during the time of her maternity and entitles her fully paid leave from work to take care of her child. Let’s take a look at the other provisions in the New Bill.
 

New Maternity Bill Highlights:

1. The Bill provides for 12 weeks of maternity leave to a woman who legally adopts a child under three months of age and a commissioning mother (defined as a biological mother) who uses her egg to have a surrogate child.

2. The Bill makes it mandatory that every establishment with 50 or more employees to provide crèche facilities within a prescribed distance. The woman will be allowed four visits to the crèche a day, which will include her rest break.  

3. There’s a provision that an employer can permit a woman to work from home, if the nature of work, so permits.
    

Women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi said this was a major step towards empowering women. "I am very, very happy we have made history today. This will help thousands of women and produce much healthier children.”

Although it remains to be seen how this new Maternity Bill will be received by the private sector, we are sure it comes as a welcome relief to all working women and their families. Because, when the workplace itself becomes your ecosystem of support, it is indeed time to celebrate!