10 Key Points You should know about Maternity Benefit Act India

The maternity benefit (amendments) act 2017 is extenstion to maternity benefit act 1961, to make life easy for working women in India.

Working Woman is entitled to paid maternity leave for 26 weeks for the first two children. Of these, up to 8 weeks can be taken pre-delivery.

Employers can not discharge or dismiss a woman during her maternity leave.

The act prohibited women from working for a specified period both before and after childbirth.

The Act introduced the option for women to work from home, provided it was feasible for the employer.

Adoptive or surrogate mothers who are legally adopting a child below three months will be entitled to a maternity benefit period of 12 weeks.

Establishments with 50 or more employees are required to provide creche facilities.

A woman who is applying for maternity leave for her 3rd child, or subsequent children, is also eligible for 12 weeks of maternity leave

The Act makes it illegal for employers to discriminate against women on the grounds of pregnancy.

Indian Maternity Benefit Act, does not apply to women who are self-employed, or at workplaces that have less than 10 employees and if she works in unorganized sector.