Navigating Maternity and Earned Leave: Are These Benefits Mandatory for Private Hospitals?

I am working as an HR in a hospital which is NABH & NABL certified and wanted to know that is leave of 3 months to the female employee during her pregnancy as per the Maternity Act of 1961 applicable to our company also. Or is it for government organizations only. The same with the earned leaves also. We don't provide any earned leaves. Kindly suggest to me if providing earned leaves is also compulsory.

Applicability of the Maternity Benefit Act 1961

The Maternity Benefit Act 1961 applies to every shop and commercial establishment where ten or more persons are employed or were employed on any day of the preceding twelve months.

The maximum period for which any woman is entitled to maternity benefit is twelve weeks, of which not more than six weeks shall precede the expected delivery date. The leaves with wages are also compulsory. For more clarification, please refer to your state Shops and Commercial Establishment Act/Rules.

Regards, P.K. Sharma