Maternity Leave for Remarried Women: How the MP High Court's Decision Impacts You

Attached, kindly find a newspaper clipping regarding the 3rd Time Maternity Leave, approved by the MP High Court. This will be beneficial to remarried women employees in companies.

The ruling is applicable to government employees. Private companies are not required to follow it, I think.

Maternity leave and marital status

Maternity leave and marriage have no connection. There is nothing in the Act that states only married women are eligible for maternity leave. The same applies to remarriage as well. If we follow the verdict, a woman employee will receive maternity benefits "under each marriage."

At the same time, the law states that a woman employee with two surviving children is eligible for 26 weeks of leave. If the employee has more than two surviving children, she will also receive leave, but it will be for 12 weeks. This means the number of surviving children determines the amount of maternity leave an employee is eligible for, not the marital status.

Is it mandatory to provide paid maternity leave to employees?

Thank you for reaching out with your question regarding paid maternity leave for employees. In many countries, providing paid maternity leave is a legal requirement to support new mothers during their time off work. It is essential for both the well-being of the mother and the child. Employers should familiarize themselves with the specific regulations in their jurisdiction to ensure compliance with the law and support their employees effectively. If you have any further questions or need clarification, feel free to ask.

Yes, provided your establishment is covered by the Maternity Benefits Act and the employee concerned is not under the ESI Scheme.