Recently the extension of maternity leave bill was passed at the lok sabha and once approved by the Rajya sabha, it becomes a reality. But there are plenty more that needs to be done to bring in equality with regards to marriage and divorce issues and property rights..
Yes the decision to modify the Maternity Benefits Act is welcome and also long overdue. It will help the working women a lot specially those in the IT fields. But with the current situation in the country, I feel more than equality, govt should take concrete steps to ensure security to the women in the country.
A good step indeed. The Maternity benefit Bill increases maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 Weeks was passed by lok Sabnha earlier and now passed by the Rajya Sabha also. This protects the employment of Working women including employees of IT firms, during the time of maternity and entitles them a full paid absence work. It covers the Private Sector also.
That is very a good thing that has happened. Minimum six months period for maternity leave is very necessary for the mother as well as child. When I delivered my son, all I could get was 90 days leave and so had to extend another 3 month unpaid leave. Downside was along with no salary, even my performance graph suffered even though it was excellent before I went on leave. When I went back, it was literally that I had to start over from scratch which was very unfair. And I have seen with my own eyes how much struggle the mothers who could afford to take unpaid leave had to go through once they joined after the period of 90 days. So by passing this bill, it is the first step towards recognition of women's contribution.
usha manohar wrote:True, six months is the least they can give since it does not come anywhere within the standards of many European countries where you can take upto 2 years paid maternity leave..
Also, the paternity leave which again is I think more than 4 weeks, additionally, to encourage fathers to share the responsibility of raising the child. Which in India, is only 12 days.
Kalyani Nandurkar wrote:usha manohar wrote:True, six months is the least they can give since it does not come anywhere within the standards of many European countries where you can take upto 2 years paid maternity leave..
Also, the paternity leave which again is I think more than 4 weeks, additionally, to encourage fathers to share the responsibility of raising the child. Which in India, is only 12 days.
Yes they get one month but they can extend it if the wife is unwell and unable to care for the infant.
Extension of maternity leave is nice one decision but it one side of coin. It another side on coin, read it
Extension of maternity leave is nice one decision but it one side of coin. It another side on coin, read it
Of course unless the attitude of the society changes whatever measures are implemented will help only a very small section of the women , whereas the majority still suffer and will be treated like a slave by their men and the society !
@kiran8