MATERNITY LEAVE INCREASED UPTO 26 WEEKS FOR ESI MEMBERS

Effective from 20th January, 2017, by virtue of amendment in the ESI Rules , an insured woman shall be entitled to 26 weeks maternity leave. However, an insured woman having two or more than two surviving children shall be entitled to receive maternity benefits during a period of twelve weeks of which not more than 6 weeks shall precede the expected date of confinement.

Clause 6A of rule 2 of the ESI Central Rules following clause has been added.

‘(6A) – “insured woman” means a woman who is or was an employee in respect of whom contribution is or were payable under the Act and who is by reason thereof, entitled to any of the benefits provided under the Act and shall include:-(i)   a commissioning mother who as biological mother wishes to have a child and prefers to get embryo implanted in any other women;

(ii) a woman who legally adopts a child of up to three months of age.’;

Rule 56 sub-Rule (2) of ESI Rules has also been amended.

MATERNITY LEAVE INCREASED UPTO 26 WEEKS FOR ESI MEMBERS