Maternity Leave
According to the Labour Act, 2007, where a female employee has completed six months of continuous service, she is entitled to maternity leave of four weeks before her expected date of confinement. After her date of confinement, she is entitled to eight weeks of maternity leave in every case. Total duration of maternity leave is 12 weeks. Thus, if the pre-natal leave is less than 4 weeks for some reason, the remaining duration is adjusted in the post-natal leave.
The minimum period for maternity leave is twelve weeks. However, this period can be extended where there have been complications in birth. Where there are complications in the birth, either because of the health of the employee or the employee’s child, the employer must grant an extended maternity leave of one month or the amount of accrued sick leave that the employee has at the time.
Source: §26-27 of the Labour Act, 2007
Income
Under the Labour Act, 2007, the employee is entitled to any remuneration from the employer during the maternity, whether extended or not, with the exception of basic wage. The Social Security Council is to pay the basic wage to the employee during the maternity period regardless of whether it is extended or not. Hence, presumably the employees on maternity leave would be paid 100% of their monthly wage.
Source: §26-27 of the Labour Act, 2007; §28-29 of the Social Security Act, 1994
Free Medical Care
There is no provision concerning fee medical care for pregnant workers under the Labour Act. However, Social Security Act provides for a National Medical Benefit Fund to provide medical benefits to every employee who is member of the Fund.
Source: §32 & 34 of the Social Security Act, 1994
