New Delhi : A move is afoot to more than double the maternity leave period for working women from 12 weeks to 26 weeks.
The Labour Ministry is in the final stages of preparing a draft amendment bill to extend the period of maternity leave of working women from 12 weeks to 26 weeks and will soon send it for inter-ministerial consultations.
“The Labour Ministry is giving the final touches to the draft amendment bill to extend maternity leave benefits. It will be soon sent for inter-ministerial consultations, post which it will be sent to the Law Ministry for vetting and then to the Cabinet for approval,” a source said.
The government has firmed up plans to increase maternity leave for working women from the existing 12 weeks to 26 weeks.
Earlier this month, the Labour Ministry held a tripartite meeting with trade unions and employers on the draft amendment bill to extend maternity leave benefits to natural, commissioning as well as adopting mothers.
