Applicability Of Maternity Benefit

Hello
A few questions on Maternity benefit
1) Is it applicable even when 10 or more persons who may all be men or all women or a mix of them, are employed?
2) What is the definition of the word "person" as mentioned in the Act?
3) Does the applicability of 10 or more persons includes the count of onroll & offroll employees?
4) For a company which has various branches in the same State or different States, does the applicability counted branch wise or total count is taken?
5) The maintenance of Records (Form-10) & Annual Returns (Form 11) have to be done irrespective of women being employed or not ?
Request the experts to clear the points one by one for a better understanding.
Thanks

For coverage or applicability of the Act the number of employees does not mean women only. Therefore, if all but one employees are men then also the Act is applicable and that only woman shall be eligible to get the benefits prescribed under the Maternity Benefit Act. For coverage, employees at all branches will be taken together. Similarly, while counting the number of employees, the employees engaged through a contractor/ outsourced will be taken as employees employed. But the outsourced employees will be getting the benefits from the contractor provided they satisfy the conditions of 80 days working.
When payment is not made no entry is required to be made in the register.
Regards,
Madhu.T.K

For availing maternity benefit is any document required like doctor certificate or marriage certificate.

No marriage certificate is required but a doctors certificate which certifies her pregnancy and expected date of delivery is required.
Regards,
Madhu.T.K