President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017. Women employees will now get paid maternity leave of 26 weeks.
The 26-week maternity leave is effective from the date of publication in the official gazette, which is 28th of March. The amended law is not applicable retrospectively and its benefit can be availed by women who proceeded on maternity leave on or after 28 March this year.
The new law makes it mandatory for every establishment with fifty or more employees to have the facility of creche within a prescribed distance. The mother will be allowed four visits to the creche in a day.
The Maternity Act also allows flexible work options so that women can achieve a balance between work and care of the newborn.
Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said the new Act will mark a paradigm shift in the health and nutrition state of mother and child in our country. She extended her gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and MPs for the Maternity Act.
