Extended benefits on Maternity leave: India Inc keen to go extra mile

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Amidst the Labour Ministry's plans to extend the period of maternity leave of working women from 12 weeks to 26 weeks, Indian companies are showing eagerness to go an extra mile, as per a report in the Economic Times.

The Labour Ministry is in the final stages of preparing a draft amendment bill to and will soon send it for inter-ministerial consultations.

Companies like Flipkart, Godrej, ICICI Bank, Accenture and Intel are ready to hike the benefits substantially further.

The ET reported that, online e-commerce gaint Flipkart is ready to offer 6 months maternity leave to women employee with further four months of flexible hour option.

ET further said that, private lender ICICI Bank and FMCG major Godrej are open to giving 6 months paid maternity leave.

IT company Accenture and said that the maternity leaves can be given for five months with additional benefits like four weeks of paid leave in case of pregnancy related illness while Intel said that apart from five months of maternity leave, the women workers can get another one month of flexible work option.

As per Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, a working woman is entitled for 12 weeks of maternity leave, out of which six weeks are before the expected date of delivery.