Govt bonanza to working class, proposes 6-month maternity leave

The proposal of Prime Minister Narendra <g data-gr-id="43">Modi-led</g> NDA government to increase maternity leave from three to six months has come as <g data-gr-id="27">breather</g> for women working in different sectors.  The move will be beneficial to 59.54 lakh women employed in both public and private sectors.

Taking to Millennium Post, women’s rights advocate Madhu Mehra said the change in the legislation was much-needed. “It’s a welcome step by the Modi government to support working women. But the government should have extended this benefit to other categories also such as surrogate mothers, single mothers, commissioning mothers, among others,” said Mehra, who is an executive director at Partners for Law in Development, a legal resource group working for women’s rights.

“The increase in maternity leave will definitely help a section of women, which will help control infant mortality rate in both urban as well as rural areas of the country,” Mehra said, adding that the government must revisit the law and make efforts to extend child care benefits to women for taking care of elders, physically challenged and sick people. 

“Given the fact that a large number of women employees take leave to take care of their ailing parents and children, the government must extend the child care leave for taking care of elders among others,” she said.

Another activist Sejal Dand asked the Centre to clear its stand on the announcement of giving Rs 6,000 as <g data-gr-id="39">aid</g> in lieu of maternity leave to those working in unorganised sectors. “The move will cater to the needs of <g data-gr-id="37">small</g> segment of working women as in the organised sector (in the Central government) female employees are already enjoying this facility. The strength of working women in <g data-gr-id="36">private</g> sector is minimal,” said Dand, an adviser to Supreme Court commission on Food Safety.

Notably, a panel on labour law in its report has proposed to increase the maternity leave for working women from three months to six months and suggested double bonus payments to employees making gratuity portable between jobs. These proposed changes in employment laws could buttress the Modi government’s credentials with the working class.

According to the information provided by the office of Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, as per Census 2011, the total number of female workers in India is 149.8 million and those in rural and urban areas are 121.8 and 28.0 million, respectively. Of the total 149.8 million workers, 35.9 million work as cultivators and another 61.5 million are agricultural labourers. Of the remaining females workers, 8.5 million are in <g data-gr-id="31">household</g> industry and 43.7 million are classified as other workers.