The long awaited Maternity Bill passed by Lok Sabha

Just after a day when the world celebrated International Women's Day, a historic bill has been passed by the Parliament increasing the paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks. The long awaited Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016 was passed by the Lok Sabha after days and months of discussion and deliberations over the same. The approved benefits and measures put down in the Bill have made India the third country after Canada and Norway, in terms of the number of weeks for maternity leave. It is a “ historic day for women” , the Ministry of Women and Child Development said, adding that the Bill will “ pave the way for a healthy and secure mother and a well-nourished child” . Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi called it a “ momentous step” and thanked her colleagues for supporting the Bill. Once the President gives his assent to the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016, working women in all establishments public as well as private will be entitled to 26 weeks of maternity leave. However, a woman who is expecting a third child or more shall be granted only a 12 week long paid maternity leave. In case a woman adopts a child below three months, she will be entitled to 12 week leave from the date the child is handed over to her. The bill makes it mandatory for all organisations with more than 30 women employees' to establish cr& egrave ches' in the office premises or within 500 metres of the same. The mother shall be allowed to visit the cr& egrave che four times a day. The Rajya Sabha had approved the Bill back in the month of August last year and since then the approval from the Lok Sabha was being looked forward to by all working women if the country.

The Maternity Bill is a good news for all the working women and their families. This Bill shall be regarded as a social bill drafted to protect the employment of women during the critical time of pregnancy and also after it, when ample amount of care and rest is required for the well being of both mother and the child.