Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in Parliament

The Union Cabinet has given its ex-post facto approval for introducing the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016 in Parliament.
•    The Bill seeks to amend the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961. 
•    The law protects the employment of women during the time of her maternity and entitles her of a ‘maternity benefit’.
•    The ‘maternity benefit’ includes full paid leave from work to take care for her child. 
•    This law is applicable to all establishments employing 10 or more persons.
•    Proposed amendments Increase Maternity Benefit to 26 weeks from 12 weeks for two surviving children and 12 weeks for more than two children. 
•    Mandatory 12 weeks Maternity Benefit to ‘Adopting mother’ and ‘Commissioning mother’. 
•    Facilitate Work from home for women during the time of her maternity.
•    Mandatory for establishment having 50 or more employees to have Creche.