Navigating Maternity Leave: What Are Our Obligations with Less Than 10 Female Employees?

Dear all,

I work in the HR department at a dairy unit in Gujarat state. We currently have six female company employees, and one of them is pregnant and will be on leave starting next week.

According to the Maternity Act, it is applicable when there are 10 or more female employees. Are we supposed to give her six weeks of leave before delivery and six weeks after her delivery? Also, what about the medical bonus payment?

Please provide your valuable suggestions.

Regards,
Rajdeep Khokhri

The Maternity Benefit Act is applicable to your establishment irrespective of the number of women employed. Even if you employ only one woman, you are covered by the Act, and as such, you have to provide maternity benefits at the rate of 12 weeks' leave. It is not necessary that six weeks' leave should precede the delivery, but she can take the entire 12 weeks' leave after delivery. A medical bonus of Rs. 1000 should also be paid to her.

Regards,
Madhu.T.K