Maternity Benefit Act amendment also applicable to those on leave

There was persistent confusion whether employees already on maternity leave would get benefit of the amended Maternity Benefit Act. The labour ministry clarified that employees already on maternity leave will be eligible for enhanced paid leave under the amended Act which came into force on April 1. The amended Act also requires organizations with over 50 employees to provide cr& egrave che facilities within a specified distance. & quot Having received many queries and to remove doubts, it is further clarified that it is mandatory on the part of employers to extend the benefit of enhanced maternity leave to those women workers who were already on maternity leave on the date of enforcement of the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 i.e. as on April 1, 2017,& quot a statement issued by the ministry said.