The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 protects the employment of women in her maternity period and entitles her of maternity benefit (Credit: iStock Images) Almost six months after the Rajya Sabha had passed the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, the Lok Sabha also approved it today (March 9, 2017), ensuring more maternity benefits for working women. It will extend the period of maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for the employees in private sector. The amendment to Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 will increase maternity benefit or leave period from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for women with two surviving children and 12 weeks in case of more than two children. In case of adoptions, commissioning and adopting mothers will get 12-week-long maternity benefit as per the new amendment.

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