Regular Govt employees entitled to 180 days’ maternity leave
Shillong, Mar 10: In a significant advancement in the health sector, maternity mortality rate (MMR) in the state has reduced by 40 per cent in the past six years, chief minister Conrad Sangma told the state assembly on Monday.
MMR was one of the key issues taken up by the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) government since it came to power in 2018, he said while replying to a question.
Informing that MMR was double the national average six years ago, he said, “With different interventions taken at our level, MMR was brought down by 40%. We are now hovering around the national average.”
Maternity Leave
Meanwhile, replying to another question, he said regular government employees with less than two surviving children are entitled to maternity leave for 180 days.
In case of stillborn delivery, grant of maternity leave for more than the above limit may be allowed, he added.
Since 1984, maternity leave had been for 90 days before being enhanced to 120 days in 2009. In 2017, it was further increased to 180 days.
Private enterprises, the CM said, are covered under the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017.
Women employees are entitled to paid maternity leave from existing 12 weeks to 26 weeks.
However, to avail the maternity leave the woman should have actually worked the establishment for at least eight days in the 12 months immediately preceding the date of her expected delivery.
The chief minister also clarified that the existing government rules do not cover the non-permanent, casual, contractual, ad hoc and muster roll workers.
“They shall be granted maternity leave under the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017,” he said.
