Creche Facilities Under the Maternity Benefit Act
A creche is to be interpreted by its objective and not just by its physical form. Therefore, if the Act (either the Maternity Benefits Act or the Factories Act) has made it an obligation of the employer, the employee need not pay or bear the cost of running it. The employer is expected to provide a room (physical structure) with beds, a feeding room ensuring privacy, personnel to take care of the babies, a dietitian, light, water, facilities for drying clothes, etc. The cost of food to be given to the babies may be borne by the employees. There is no separate rule that the employer is liable to provide food to the children of employees also.