The Indian Government today approved the amendments to The Maternity Benefit Act which seeks to extend maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks.
The bill seeks to provide paid leave benefits to women working in the government as well as private sectors and makes it mandatory for establishments which has more than 10 employees.
The amendments will help approximately 1.8 million women workforce in organised sector.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar had earlier labelled the bill as a "priority" for the government.
The bill also has provisions for commissioning and adopting mothers.
Another amendment in the bill is to commission work from home for new mothers. It also makes it mandatory for establishment with more than 50 employees to provide Creche for the mothers returning to work.
