Am I Eligible for Maternity Leave During My Contract's Final Months? Seeking Advice

Hi, I am working as a project coordinator in Jaipur on a contract basis. My contract is going to end on 31st March 2018, and I am planning to go on maternity leave from February 2018. Please confirm whether I am eligible for two months of maternity leave (February & March) as per my contract. I also have ESIC benefits.

Thank you.

Maternity benefit is also a part of the ESI benefits under the ESI Scheme. You are entitled to full benefits, not limited to February and March, as per its terms and conditions. Check with your local ESI Office regarding your entitlements. Feel free to reach out if you have any remaining queries.

But the last date of my contract is 31st March 2018. In this case, how can I get the benefit of maternity leave?

Based on the user's input, here is the corrected version:

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You are eligible for a 26-week (6-month) period. Please find the attachments.

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I corrected the spelling and grammar errors in the text. Additionally, I have added a single line break between the paragraphs for better readability.

According to you, Mr. N V Parmar, I am eligible for 6 months' leave after 31st March 2018 (contract end date). If my employer doesn't renew my contract after 31st March 2018, then ...

ESI Benefits During Maternity

ESI provides both sickness benefits, such as medical treatment during pregnancy, and maternity benefits. Specifically, ESIC offers 100% of average daily wages in cash for up to 26 weeks during confinement. ESI benefits are contingent upon compliance during the contribution period. The table below illustrates this position.

Since you are seeking the benefit during the January to June 2018 period, it would depend on whether you had contributed to ESI during the April to September 2017 contribution period. The benefit period is not dependent on the service period; it can exceed it. Also, as you are contributing in the October 2017 to March 2018 contribution period, your beneficiary period would extend to December 2018.

Contribution Periods and Corresponding Benefit Periods

- 1st April to 30th September: Following 1st January to 30th June of the year
- 1st October to 31st March: Following 1st July to 31st December of the year

Thanks, sir! It means I will get 2 months' salary from ESI, and after the 31st of March 2018 (contract end date), I will receive medical treatment for a full 6 months. Is that correct, sir?

You will get full maternity benefits for 26 weeks from ESI and medical benefits up to end Dec '18.

Dear member,

The Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948 does not discriminate between employees or insured women based on casual, contract, fixed-term, or any other basis. What is important is that the insured woman must have completed and paid contributions for the minimum period as laid down in the rules framed under the above Act.

The question of whether you are eligible to receive maternity benefits as well as medical benefits under the said Act is a matter of fact, and therefore we are not in a position to answer or explain it correctly. It would be better if you contact your ESIC Branch Office to which you are attached, having your PEHCHAN CARD issued under the above Act.

Maternity Benefits are paid under the above Act by the ESIC Branch Office based on medical certificates issued by the ESIS Dispensary or ESIS Hospital to which you are attached. It would be better if you also contact the concerned doctor with your said PEHCHAN CARD.

Thank you.

Yes, you are fully eligible to take ESIC benefits, but you need to do so through the ESIC office or hospital. Therefore, you will need to coordinate with your regional ESIC office or hospital. Also, ensure that you have completed at least 80 days in that organization.

Regards,
Chandra Prakash Singh