Maternity Leave Rules in India 2021 for Contractual Employees

India, like many countries, has provisions for maternity leave for employees. However, these provisions can vary depending on the nature of one`s employment, such as whether or not they are contractual employees. In this article, we will discuss the maternity leave rules in India for contractual employees in 2021.

As per the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017, women are entitled to 26 weeks of maternity leave, whether they are permanent or contractual employees. This is an increase from the previous 12 weeks of maternity leave. However, there are certain conditions that a contractual employee must meet to be eligible for this leave.

According to the act, a contractual employee must have worked with the employer for a minimum of 80 days in the 12 months immediately preceding the date of expected delivery. This means that if a woman has worked for at least 80 days with her current employer, she is entitled to 26 weeks of maternity leave.

It is important to note that this leave can be taken either before or after the delivery of the child. If a woman wishes to take leave before the delivery, she can take it up to 8 weeks before the expected due date. However, in case of premature delivery, the leave can be taken from the date of delivery.

In case a woman wants to avail of leave after the delivery, she can take it for up to 26 weeks from the date of delivery. However, if a woman has already availed of some part of her maternity leave before the delivery, the remaining weeks can be taken after the delivery.

Apart from these provisions, an employer cannot terminate the services of a woman during her maternity leave. Additionally, the employer must provide a medical bonus of up to Rs. 3500 to the woman, as per the rules of the act.

In conclusion, contractual employees in India are entitled to 26 weeks of maternity leave, provided they have worked with their employer for at least 80 days in the preceding 12 months. This leave can be taken before or after the delivery of the child, and employers cannot terminate the services of women during this period. As an SEO copy editor, it is important to note that these rules are crucial for women`s well-being in the workplace, and must be highlighted in any content related to maternity leave in India.