Latest updates for Maternity Leaves - increasing 12 weeks to 24 weeks?

Dear Seniors, I am a HR professional Working with a Manufacturing MNC in Haryana. There are some news in market about amendments in Maternity Leaves. it is increasing 12 weeks to 24 weeks. but i am not aware that either this has been implemented or pending ? if it is pending than when supposed to implemented ?
in hope of your prompt guidelines so same i can introduce with our MGMT.
rgds.
Kumud

Hi Kumad,
The ministry of women and child development had given a recommendation to increase the maternity leave to 24 weeks from 12 weeks. This is because to reduce the child malnutrition percentage in India, which has significantly increased in the last 10 years. The amendment is yet to be passed. Also this would help/encourage female employees to return to work as many female employees drop out of work after their maternity leave/period to spend more time with the newborns.

Dear Kumud,
This is still in the discussion stage. This will get implemented when the motion is passed in the parliament. This is scheduled for the passing in the current Winter Session. The news will be out in the news paper and a circular shall be circulated to that effect.
Keep watching the current news for the same.
Regards,
Ashutosh Thakre

If it happens, it's an amazing excellent move towards progressive statutory practices. In fact many countries in Europe have started encouraging employers to give maternity leave between 6 months to 1 year. Paternity leave is another aspect which the government should look at. If the government gets these amendments, it would be a great achievement in an environment where many employers have slave/ bondage mentality towards employees. Also hope that there would be strict implementation of working hours like in the developed countries. It's sad to see the small IT companies and BPO's transforming themselves as not sweat shops and exploiting the employees. India needs to evolve in the way employers and superiors treat their employees.

Hi
Is there any further update/amendment on the maternity leave in 2018?