In what is being touted as a "historic" move, India has more than doubled its paid maternity leave to 26 weeks from 12 weeks for working moms-to-be. The global average is 20 weeks, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
India is now ahead of several European and Asian nations when it comes to fully paid maternity leaves but trails behind the likes of Estonia, Bulgaria, Hungary and Japan.
SEE ALSO:Malaysian bank offers year-long maternity leave, but with a catchThe 26 weeks of paid leave, however, will be available to women for the first two children only, after which they will be entitled to just 12 weeks of paid leave.
In addition, commissioning and adopting mothers will now get three months of maternity leave, a first in India, as per the legislation.
Credit: MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING / GOVERNMENT OF INDIAThe Maternity Benefit Amendment Bill 2016 had been pending in the Parliament for nearly nine months before it was passed on Thursday.
India's Labour Minister termed it a “gift on International Women’s Day” and said that the legislation will have far reaching consequences both in terms of child care and female workforce participation in the country
At present, women occupy only 29 percent of India's workforce — the lowest among the BRICS. China is at 64 percent, Brazil at 59 percent, Russia at 57 percent, and South Africa at 45 percent, according to World Bank data.
"Lack of flexibility in working conditions tends to dissuade women from joining the labor force as they turn to their domestic duties," the Associated Chambers of Commerce of India said last year.
The bill also proposes that all organizations provide creche facilities for mothers during working hours and enable work-from-home whenever possible.
Credit: MINISTRY OF INFORMATION & BROADCASTING / GOVERNMENT OF INDIAThe decision is being hailed by Indian people, including corporate chiefs and leading politicians.
Some have even pointed to the fact that the U.S. lacks a maternity leave policy still. In fact, it is one of a handful of the 193 countries in the United Nations that does not offer paid parental leave.
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Tweet may have been deleted
Well done, India!
(责任编辑：探索)
One of the most controversial power struggles in media comes to a close
Intel and Warner Bros. are teaming up to build inTwitter reveals what Australians talked about most in 2017Doll gets a creepy makeover, thanks to a grandpa's unfortunate accidentDid our grandparents have the best beauty advice?5 people Tim Cook calls for advice on running the biggest company in the world
It's only fitting that the leader of the biggest company in the world has a pretty impressive list o
...[详细]3 reasons why you should start a business in 2018
2018 is rapidly approaching and with the end of the year comes plenty of resolutions for the New Yea
...[详细]For millennials, sending your first text message was a rite of passage
25 years ago, on 3 December 1992, a British engineer sent a message to a colleague. The contents wer
...[详细]Serena Williams shares intimate moment from her wedding day
Tennis star Serena Williams and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian tied the knot at a private wedding
...[详细]Pole vaulter claims his penis is not to blame
Following the cringeworthy moment in which pole vaulter Hiroki Ogita's penis grazed the bar and he f
...[详细]Horrific 2017 Atlantic hurricane season ends with many still reeling
The 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, which officially ends on Thursday, will go down as one of the mo
...[详细]For millennials, sending your first text message was a rite of passage
25 years ago, on 3 December 1992, a British engineer sent a message to a colleague. The contents wer
...[详细]Should you watch 'The Room' before seeing 'The Disaster Artist'?
Even if you've never seen The Room, you've probably heard of it.Routinely declared the worst movie e
...[详细]PlayStation Now game streaming is coming to PC
Sony's PlayStation Now service is launching for Windows PC, meaning subscribers will soon be able to
...[详细]Disney is giving us a Star Wars TV show, plus more movies from Lucasfilm
Star Wars fans have been waiting for a live-action TV show for so long, they never would have guesse
...[详细]Tourist survives for month in frozen New Zealand wilderness after partner dies
Brands have no idea how to deal with being caught in a political firestorm