Vidhi Codex

Bare Act

The Maternity Benefit Act

Labour196135 sections

The Maternity Benefit Act regulates paid maternity leave, medical bonuses, nursing breaks, and workplace crèche facilities in India, while prohibiting employers from dismissing women during pregnancy. It applies to female employees working in factories, mines, plantations, entertainment exhibitions, and shops or establishments with ten or more employees. This legislation matters because it secures the physical health, financial stability, and employment rights of working mothers and their newborn infants during a crucial period. By ensuring robust job protection and income support, this law empowers women in the workforce, promotes maternal and child health, and prevents discriminatory dismissals based on their pregnancy.

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  1. 0. Preamble
  2. 1. Short title, extent and commencement.
  3. 2. Application of Act.
  4. 3. Definitions.
  5. 4. Employment of, or work by, women prohibited during certain period.
  6. 5. Right to payment of maternity benefit.
  7. 5A. Continuance of payment of maternity benefit in certain cases.
  8. 5B. Payment of maternity benefit in certain cases.
  9. 6. Notice of claim for maternity benefit and payment thereof.
  10. 7. Payment of maternity benefit in case of death of a woman.
  11. 8. Payment of medical bonus.
  12. 9. Leave for miscarriage, etc.
  13. 9A. Leave with wages for tubectomy operation.
  14. 10. Leave for illness arising out of pregnancy, delivery, premature birth of child 5[, miscarriage,
  15. 11. Nursing breaks.
  16. 11A. Crèche facility.
  17. 12. Dismissal during absence of pregnancy.
  18. 13. No deduction of wages in certain cases.
  19. 14. Appointment of Inspectors.
  20. 15. Powers and duties of Inspectors.
  21. 16. Inspectors to be public servants.
  22. 17. Power of Inspector to direct payments to be made.
  23. 18. Forfeiture of maternity benefit.
  24. 19. Abstract of Act and rules thereunder to be exhibited.
  25. 20. Registers, etc.
  26. 21. Penalty for contravention of Act by employer.
  27. 22. Penalty for obstructing Inspector.
  28. 23. Cognizance of offences.
  29. 24. Protection of action taken in good faith.
  30. 25. Power of Central Government to give directions.
  31. 26. Power to exempt establishments.
  32. 27. Effect of laws and agreements inconsistent with this Act.
  33. 28. Power to make rules.
  34. 29. Amendment of Act 69 of 1951.
  35. 30. Repeal.

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