Hi,
A woman who has worked for at least 80 days in the 12 months immediately preceding for expected date of delivery will be eligible to avail the Maternity benefits.It is applicable to all the women who are employed in any capacity directly or through any contractual agency.
• Maternity leave available to the working women is increased from 12 weeks to 26 weeks for the first two children. This benefit could be availed by women for a period extending up to 8 weeks before the expected delivery date and remaining 18 weeks can be availed post childbirth.
• Maternity leave up to 12 weeks for a woman who adopts a child below the age of three months, and for commissioning mothers (who use a surrogate to have a child). The period of maternity leave will be calculated from the date the child is handed over to the adoptive or commissioning mother