THE MATERNITY BENEFIT (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2017
An Act further to amend the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.
Amendments
1.Leave period increased from 12 weeks (84 Days) to 26 Weeks(182 Days) for not more than two surviving children
2. Provided that 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.
3.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
4. In case where the nature of work assigned to a woman is of such nature
that she may work from home, the employer may allow her to do so after availing
of the maternity benefit for such period and on such conditions as the employer
and the woman may mutually agree.’’
5. Every establishment having fifty or more employees shall have the
facility of créche within such distance as may be prescribed, either separately or along
with common facilities :
Provided that the employer shall allow four visits a day to the creche by the
woman, which shall also include the interval for rest allowed to her.
6. Every establishment shall intimate in writing and electronically to every
woman at the time of her initial appointment regarding every benefit available under
the Act.
