The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 – Overview

Introduction

Comprising half the population, women make up a crucial chunk of the workforce. Employment demands the need to balance work and child-bearing and child-rearing responsibilities. The Constitutional framework endeavours to provide equality to women in all walks of life. In furtherance of this pursuit, the Maternity Benefit Act, going along the lines of the International Labor Organisation, aims to grant maternity protection to women. The Maternity Benefit Act of 1961 and the very recent amendment of 2017 ensure active participation in economic activities post maternity. The gradual change that society has undergone demands that women have not become vulnerable during the fragile phase of pregnancy. Hence, the Maternity Benefit Act ensures that a woman has equal protection to employment during pregnancy so that it does not impact women, their productivity or economic growth. Keep Reading