Centre tables bill on extended maternity leave

New Delhi, Aug 11  Union Minister of Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya on Thursday introduced in the Rajya Sabha the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016, that seeks to increase maternity leave benefit for women from 12 to 26 weeks.

The union cabinet on Wednesday gave ex-post facto approval to increase of maternity leave benefit from 12 to 26 weeks for two surviving children and 12 weeks for more than two children.

The union cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had given its ex-post facto approval for amendments to the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, by introducing the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016, in parliament, stated an official statement.