Paid maternity leave increased to 24 weeks will all companies follow

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No. The Act has still to be amended. This is what Bandaru Dattareya said about the act “We have a huge task in hand, but we can’t pass Bills without reaching a consensus. However, we have decided to go ahead with some of the pro-labour Bills through executive orders. We have done it in the case of minimum wage of Rs 10,000 for contract workers. We will do it for extending the maternity benefit as well,” the minister told FE in an interview. Maternity leave for private sector workers would be extended to 26 weeks from the current 12 weeks. The executive order would come soon. Suggestions were there from the ministry of women and child development to enhance the maternity benefit to 28 weeks under the Maternity Benefits Act, 1961.”

But some private sectors have already started increasing their leave period.

Here are the list.

AIRTEL
Bharti Airtel increased maternity leave for women employees to 22 weeks, from 12 weeks. In case of adoption, if the child's age is less than 2 years, women employees can avail 12 weeks of leave, and if the age is above 2 years, a leave of 6 weeks can be availed. Male employees can take one week off in both cases.

FLIPKART
Probably the only online retail company that's offering an extended maternity leave of 24 weeks, Flipkart also encourages women employees to avail benefits of their flexible working hours (with full pay) for as long as four months after their maternity leave.

If needed, women can also take a 1-year career break without pay at Flipkart.

MICROSOFT INDIA
As of February 1, 2016, Microsoft India is offering 6 months maternity leave--extended from 3 months' leave--to its women employees. The company is also offering 2 weeks paternity leave to new fathers. This is in addition to Microsoft India offering women employees the option of availing unpaid leave for up to three months and flexible work arrangements for up to two years.

Additionally, to care for adopted children, mothers will be eligible for eight calendar weeks of paid leave, while fathers are eligible for two weeks of paid leave.

NESTLE INDIA
Nestle India has extended its maternity leave policy to 6 months, effective February 1, 2016, from the previous leave of 18 weeks, while granting adoption leave for six weeks with full pay and benefits for all permanent women employees.

Besides, a paternity policy has been introduced with a leave of five working days with full pay and benefits for all permanent male employees, reports DNA.

It came to news that Delloite has also increased Maternity leave to 26 weeks and PricewaterhouseCoopers, EY and KPMG are in the process of finalising such policies.

OTHERS
HCL Technologies, Godrej and Hindustan Unilever (HUL) offer over 24 weeks (180 days) of maternity leave to all women employees.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment is considering a proposal to make it compulsory for any company that employs more than 30 women to have childcare facilities, either on campus or at a short distance from the workplace.

Advocate Siddhant Sharma LawRato