StreeNEWS – Maternity Benefit Bill widely applauded by women

Maternity Benefit Bill widely applauded by women

Aug 18, 2016Stree NewsBirth, Health, Kids, Law, STREE, Women0

Mumbai: The recently passed Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which increases maternity leave from present 12 weeks to 26 weeks has been widely applauded by the women from across the country. The working class women can now have a paid 6 months of leave.
The bill was moved for consideration by Labour Minister, Bandaru Dattatreya, and was passed by a voice vote.
The Union cabinet gave ex-post facto approval to increase the maternity leave benefit from 12 to 26 weeks for two surviving children and 12 weeks for more than two children.
“How I wish this had happened some 7 years back. With no helping hand, I had to leave my promising job to take care for my newborn child,” says Archana Rao, now an entrepreneur.
“The very purpose of this Bill is to increase the working women force because in the work force, participation of women is decreasing day by day,” Dattatreya said will presenting the Bill at Rajya Sabha.
The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, protects the employment of women during the time of maternity and entitles them to a full paid absence from work to take care for the child. The amendment bill seeks to increase maternity leave period to 26 weeks in all establishments, including private sector.
“I have never worked but I have certainly seen my cousins struggling to get extended leaves, post delivery, especially those working in private firms. With the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 passed, it will certainly be a boon,” said M.Vijayalaxmi, from Chennai.