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Unit 12: The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961

12.7.1 Notice of Claim for Maternity Benefit and Payment Thereof Notes

Notice of Claim for Maternity Benefit and Payment are as follows:
(1) Any woman employed in an establishment and entitled to maternity benefit under the
provisions of this Act may give notice in writing in such form as may be prescribed, to her
employer, stating that her maternity benefit and any other amount to which she may be
entitled under this Act may be paid to her or to such person as she may nominate in the
notice and that she will not work in any establishment during the period for which she
receives maternity benefit.
(2) In the case of a woman who is pregnant, such notice shall state the date from which she will
be absent from work, not being a date earlier than six weeks from the date of her expected
delivery.
(3) Any woman who has not given the notice when she was pregnant may give such notice as
soon as possible after the delivery.
(4) On receipt of the notice, the employer shall permit such woman to absent herself from the
establishment during the period for which she receives the maternity benefit.
(5) The amount of maternity benefit for the period preceding the date of her expected delivery
shall be paid in advance by the employer to the woman on production of such proof as may
be prescribed that the woman is pregnant, and the amount due for the subsequent period
shall be paid by the employer to the woman within forty-eight hours of production of such
proof as may be prescribed that the woman has been delivered of a child.
(6) The failure to give notice under this section shall not disentitle a woman to maternity benefit
or any other amount under this Act if she is otherwise entitled to such benefit or amount
and in any such case an Inspector may either of his own motion or on an application made
to him by the woman, order the payment of such benefit or amount within such period as
may be specified in the order.

Task As a Manager, what maternity benefits will you amend in your organization
for the female employees?

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
19. The maximum period for which any woman shall be entitled to maternity benefit shall be
.................. weeks.

20. Any woman who has not given the .................. when she was pregnant may give such
notice as soon as possible after the delivery.
21. The .................. to give notice under this section shall not disentitle a woman to maternity
benefit or any other amount under this Act.

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