Maternity Benefit Act, 1961
➔ The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 is a legislation that protects the employment of women at the time of her
maternity. It guarantees women employees ‘maternity benefit’ which is fully paid wages during her absence
from work to take care of her child.
➔ The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 has been amended through the Maternity (Amendment) Bill 2017 which was
passed in the Lok Sabha.
➔ The Act is applicable to the establishments employing 10 or more employees.
➔ The Act is a significant piece of legislation that safeguards motherhood’s honour. It also makes sure that
working mothers can provide their kids the care they need. Maternity benefits assist women financially in
addition to defending their rights.
➔ The advantages that women receive during pregnancy and to encourage child care are known as maternity
benefits.
➔ Maternity benefits are an essential component of a woman’s employment since they give her the support she
needs to think about establishing a family. The laws are in place to help parents after childbirth and during
their recuperation period before returning to work.
➔ The Act is applicable to women working in factories, mines, plantations, etc. Additionally, it applies to any
organisation that, in the previous 12 months, employed more than 10 people each day in any shop or
establishment in the relevant state of India is also subject to the aforementioned Act.
➔ A woman must be working as an employee in an establishment for a period of at least 80 days in the past 12
months to be entitled to maternity benefit under the provisions of the Maternity Benefit Act.
Provisions under the MBA, 1961
➔ According to the Act, every woman will be eligible for a 26-week maternity benefit. It was expanded from 12
weeks to 26 weeks. This benefit cannot be availed not before 8 weeks to the due delivery date.
➔ A commissioning mother or a woman who adopts a child under three months old is eligible for 12 weeks of
maternity leave.
➔ According to the guidelines of the 1961 Act, it has been ruled unlawful for an employer to fire or let go of a
woman at any time during or because of her absence. However, the employer may notify the employee in
writing if the dismissal or discharge is the result of serious wrongdoing.
➔ A woman is entitled to a maximum of six weeks of paid leave if her pregnancy ends in miscarriage or she has
an abortion.
➔ The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 is a legislation that protects the employment of women at the time of her
maternity. It guarantees women employees ‘maternity benefit’ which is fully paid wages during her absence
from work to take care of her child.
➔ The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 has been amended through the Maternity (Amendment) Bill 2017 which was
passed in the Lok Sabha.
➔ The Act is applicable to the establishments employing 10 or more employees.
➔ The Act is a significant piece of legislation that safeguards motherhood’s honour. It also makes sure that
working mothers can provide their kids the care they need. Maternity benefits assist women financially in
addition to defending their rights.
➔ The advantages that women receive during pregnancy and to encourage child care are known as maternity
benefits.
➔ Maternity benefits are an essential component of a woman’s employment since they give her the support she
needs to think about establishing a family. The laws are in place to help parents after childbirth and during
their recuperation period before returning to work.
➔ The Act is applicable to women working in factories, mines, plantations, etc. Additionally, it applies to any
organisation that, in the previous 12 months, employed more than 10 people each day in any shop or
establishment in the relevant state of India is also subject to the aforementioned Act.
➔ A woman must be working as an employee in an establishment for a period of at least 80 days in the past 12
months to be entitled to maternity benefit under the provisions of the Maternity Benefit Act.
Provisions under the MBA, 1961
➔ According to the Act, every woman will be eligible for a 26-week maternity benefit. It was expanded from 12
weeks to 26 weeks. This benefit cannot be availed not before 8 weeks to the due delivery date.
➔ A commissioning mother or a woman who adopts a child under three months old is eligible for 12 weeks of
maternity leave.
➔ According to the guidelines of the 1961 Act, it has been ruled unlawful for an employer to fire or let go of a
woman at any time during or because of her absence. However, the employer may notify the employee in
writing if the dismissal or discharge is the result of serious wrongdoing.
➔ A woman is entitled to a maximum of six weeks of paid leave if her pregnancy ends in miscarriage or she has
an abortion.
