Indian Government Proposes to Extend Maternity Paid Leave to 26 Weeks

As several countries are planning to provide paternity leave for fathers, the Indian government is now planning to extend the maternity paid leave of expectant mothers.

The labor ministry is mulling over extending maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for working women in India. It is preparing a draft amendment bill and will soon send it for inter-ministerial consultations.

‘Labor Ministry has planned to extend maternity benefits to the private sector from 12 weeks of paid leave to 26 weeks. ’

The draft amendment bill will also include extending maternity leave benefits to natural, commissioning as well as adopting mothers.

The labor ministry will need to amend the Maternity Benefits Act, 1961, where it offers 12 weeks of maternity leave for expectant mothers, to enforce the changes.

Source: Medindia