THE MATERNITY BENEFIT ACT, 1961

An Act to regulate the employment of women in certain establishments for certain periods before and after child-birth and to provide for maternity benefit and certain other benefits.

(a) to every establishment being a factory, mine or plantation including any such establishment belonging to Government and to every establishment wherein persons are employed for the exhibition of equestrian, acrobatic and other performances;

(b) to every shop or establishment within the meaning of any law for the time being in force inrelation to shops and establishments in a State, in which ten or more persons are employed, or were employed, on any day of the preceding twelve months:

The amendments to Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 are as follows:

Increase Maternity Benefit from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for two surviving children and 12 weeks for more than two childern.

12 weeks Maternity Benefit to a ‘Commissioning mother’ and ‘Adopting mother’.

Facilitate’Work from home’. • Mandatory provision of Creche in respect of establishment having 50 or more employees.