Labour Law Gazette Notifications

Central

The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017

Central Government by notification in the Official Gazette has made changes to the Maternity Benefit Act under various sub-sections and provisions, below mentioned are the key highlights: (i) The maximum period for which any woman shall be entitled to maternity leave shall be twenty-six weeks of which not more than eight weeks shall precede the date of her expected delivery. (ii) The maximum period entitled to maternity benefit by a woman having two or more than two surviving children shall be twelve weeks of which not more than six weeks shall precede the date of her expected delivery. (iii) Every establishment having fifty or more employees shall have the facility of creche within such distance as may be prescribed, either separately or along with common facilities. (iv) All Establishments shall intimate in writing and electronically to every woman at the time of her initial appointment regarding every benefit available under the Act. (v) A woman who legally adopts a child below the age of three months or a commissioning mother shall be entitled to maternity benefit for a period of twelve weeks from the date the child is handed over to the adopting mother or the commissioning mother, as the case may be. (vi) After availing maternity benefit the work from home facility may also be availed as per agreement between employer and woman employee Central Government shall by separate notification release the effective dates for some or all provisions or sub-sections of the Act