India’s New Law Makes 26 Weeks Paid Maternity Leave Compulsory, Puts US Law To Shame.

India has been mulling over the prospect of 26 weeks of maternity leave for a while now. There has been a lot of debate about how this might affect business profitability and hiring culture. However, there was a predominantly positive response to the prospect as this would lead to a happier workforce.

Yesterday, President Pranab Mukherjee finally gave his approval to the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, which raises the maternity leave in India from 12 to 26 weeks.

This act made changes to a maternity law that our country has been blindly following for the past 55 years!

 

Moreover, this amendment put India among the countries offering the highest paid maternity leave, well ahead of the United States, which has no such federated mandate.

 

The new law also makes it mandatory for companies with 50 or more employees to have a day-care centre within a prescribed distance.

Also, the mothers would be allowed to visit the centre four times a day.

 

Moreover, even those women who decide to adopt a child will be given 12 weeks of maternity leave by law.

However, one must also take note that the 26 weeks of paid maternity leave is only applicable for the first two children. The third child onwards, the female employee will only be granted 12 weeks of maternity leave.

This is certainly a progressive step taken by our nation. The new law enables working mothers to still have a flourishing career without compromising on raising their child.

News Source: NDTV

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