Page 203 - DCOM207_LABOUR_LAWS

Labour Laws Gopika Juneja, Lovely Professional University

Notes Unit 12: The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961

CONTENTS

Objectives
Introduction
12.1 Genesis of the Act
12.1.1 Main Provisions
12.2 Definitions
12.3 Objective of this Act

12.4 Applicability and Coverage of this Act
12.5 Benefits and Penalties of this Act
12.5.1 Penalties
12.6 Restrictions on Employment

12.6.1 Forfeiture
12.7 Right to Payment of Maternity Benefit
12.7.1 Notice of Claim for Maternity Benefit and Payment Thereof
12.8 Summary
12.9 Keywords

12.10 Review Questions
12.11 Further Readings

Objectives

After studying this unit, you will be able to:

l z Explain the genesis of the Act
l z Discuss the definitions under this Act
l z Get an overview of the objective of this Act
l z Describe the applicability and coverage of this Act

l z Discuss the benefits and penalties of this Act
l z Get an overview of the restrictions on employment
l z Discuss the right to payment of maternity benefit

Introduction

In the previous unit, we dealt with Employees Provident Fund Act. The Maternity Benefit Act,
1961 regulates employment of women in certain establishments for a certain period before and
after childbirth and provides for maternity and other benefits. Such benefits are aimed to protect
the dignity of motherhood by providing for the full and healthy maintenance of women and
her child when she is not working. The Act is applicable to mines, factories, circus industry,
plantations, shops and establishments employing ten or more persons, except employees covered

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