The Maternity Benefit Bill( Amendment) 2016

The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill 2016, which is recently passed in the Lok Sabha, replacing Maternity Benefit Act 1961 will raise the paid maternity leave for women from 12 weeks to 26 weeks in the organized sector for the first two children, is a welcome step. The maternity leave beyond the first two children will continue to be 12 weeks. It says 12 weeks’ paid leave will be granted to mothers adopting or having a child through surrogacy in all the establishments employing at least 10 people. Moreover, it also says every establishment employing atleast 50 people must  provide creche facilities for working mother either in office or in any place within a 500-metre radius. Such mothers will also be permitted to make  4 visits to take care of their child during working hours. Now it’s duty of organizations to convey the message to all the women working with them. The bill will now be sent to the President for his assent before it becomes an Act as it has already been passed in Rajya Sabha earlier. The amended law is expected to cover approximately 2 million women, covering minute percentage of the total working women all over the country. The Bill doesn’t apply to the women working in unorganized sector yet, where the only support available is a cash amount of Rs/- 6000 during pregnancy, conditionally. On the whole it has started bringing social change which is appreciable step in the right direction. But it has yet to cover major portion that is unorganized sector.