Govt. plans incentive scheme for maternity leave

In a bid to encourage employers, especially in the private sector, to implement the extended 26-week maternity leave law, the Labour Ministry plans to refund them for seven weeks' worth of wages for women workers with a wage ceiling up to Rs 15,000 per month.

The Ministry is in the process of getting budgetary approvals for the Rs 400 crore incentive scheme, according to an official statement.

In March 2017, the Centre amended the Maternity Benefit Act to increase paid maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks for all women employees in establishments employing ten or more people. However, the Ministry statement noted that while implementation of the provision was good in the public sector, it was poor for those with private sector or contract jobs.