Maternity Benefits (Amendment) Bill 2016 Passed in Rajya Sabha

The bill benefits 1.8 million women in the organised sector.

Women in organised sector now get 26 weeks of leave for upto two children (Photo Credits: iStockphoto)

Cutting across party lines, members in Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed a Bill that provides for 26 weeks maternity leave, even as some members sought norms for paternity leave so that parents can share the responsibility of raising children.

The Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which was moved for consideration and passage by Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, was passed by a voice vote.

The measure also seeks to increase maternity benefit from 12 to 26 weeks for two surviving children that would benefit about 1.8 million women in the organised sector.

The very purpose of this Bill is to increase the working women force because in the work force, participation of women is decreasing day by day

Bandaru Dattatreya, Labour Minister

Citing the maternity leave rules prevalent in various countries, Dattatreya said post the enactment of the Bill, India will jump to the third position in terms of the number of weeks (26) for maternity leave, behind Norway (44) and Canada (50).

(With inputs from PTI)

Video Editor: Ashutosh Bhardwaj