Refer maternity Benefits act;
Sec 5 given below indicates what is to be paid to the lady employee.
5. Right to payment of maternity benefit. -- (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act,
every woman shall be entitled to, and her employer shall be liable for, the payment of
maternity benefit at the rate of the average daily wage for the period of her actual absence
immediately preceding and including the day of her delivery and for the six weeks
immediately following that day.
What is wages is defined in Sec3(n) of the act
(n) “wages” means all remuneration paid or payable in cash to a woman, if the terms
of the contract of employment, express or implied, were fulfilled and includes –
(1) such cash allowances (including dearness allowance and house rent
allowance) as a woman is for the time being entitled to;
(2) incentive bonus; and
(3) the money value of the concessional supply of foodgrains and other
articles,
but does not include –
(i) any bonus other than incentive bonus;
(ii) overtime earnings and any deduction or payment made on account of
fines;
(iii) any contribution paid or payable by the employer to any pension fund
or provident fund or for the benefit of the woman under any law for
the time being in force; and
(iv) any gratuity payable on the termination of service;
(o) “woman” means a woman employed, whether directly or through any agency, for
wages in any establishment.
I hope this clears your doubts.