Are Indian Startups Ignoring Maternity Leave? Seeking Advice on Policies and Support

Manashi
I am working in a company where the employee strength is 50+. This is a private company run by two directors' family members. When I joined the HR department, I was a replacement for one of my colleagues who was pregnant. Later, I received a PDF of the leave policy with the company logo, where no maternity leave or paternity leave was mentioned. I later came to know that the employee I replaced struggled a lot and was forced to resign due to her pregnancy.

In India, most Indian startup companies are not following any maternity policy, and female employees are forced to resign. I already have a gap in my career due to my first baby, where I was forced to resign. This issue has become a major obstacle in getting a job.

Understanding Policies and Support for Startup Employees

1. Now, I want to understand what policies or support we, as startup private company employees, have that we can oppose this practice with.

Government Audits on Leave Policies

2. Is there any audit conducted by any department or government to ensure that these companies are following leave rules or policies?

Please help me understand what steps I should take as a woman and as an employee in the HR department.
Vinoth VS
This leave is covered under the Maternity Benefit Act. It is applicable to an organization once they have engaged 10 employees. Under this act, a woman employee gets 8 weeks of leave before the delivery and 18 weeks of leave after the delivery.

My suggestion is to raise a complaint with the Chief Labour Commissioner in your region. Certainly, the authorities can take necessary action against the company.

For queries, write to me at my Gmail address: arvino.thehindu
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