MATERNITY LEAVE FOR 8 MONTHS PROPOSED

TNI News Service (TNS)

Webdesk, TNI New Delhi, 2nd September, 2015: India’s working women now have a good reason to cheer as the Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi has recommended for the extension of maternity leave to eight months from the current 3 months. The Minister has discussed the proposal for working and expecting women, with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ministry has also urged the labor ministry that the maternity benefit provisions should be extended to all working women both in organized and unorganized sector. Keeping in mind the pre and post pregnancy complications, the government is now planning to make some changes in the incumbent rule. Women in the private sector are often hard-pressed for such leaves beyond the maternity break (rarely beyond 90 days), besides the regular quota of earned, casual and medical leaves. It has to be noted that in July 2015, e-commerce site Flipkart offered 24-week paid maternity leave and flexible working hours for expecting women employees.