The Rajya Sabha has passed the Maternity Benefits (Amendment) Bill, 2016. It seeks to raise maternity leave for working women from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for two surviving children.
Replying to a brief discussion, Labour and Employment Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said the new legislation will benefit 18 lakh women workforce in the country.
It applies to every establishment employing ten or more persons and includes mines and factories. He said no employer can remove any woman employee on the ground of pregnancy.
There is also a provision in the bill to provide 12 weeks maternity benefit to a commissioning mother and adopting mother. The bill makes a mandatory provision of creche in every establishment having 50 or more employees.
The 44th, 45th and 46th Indian Labour Conference had recommended enhancement of maternity benefits to 24 weeks. Women and Child Development Ministry had also proposed enhancing maternity leave to eight months.
Initiating the discussion, Mrs Rajani Patil of the Congress welcomed the bill saying it is a progressive legislation. She said India is one among forty countries, which had this kind of legislation.
She also demanded paternity leave for men to help their wives in the baby care. Narayan Lal Pancharia of the BJP said that the amendments will make it possible for the mothers to give more time for baby care.