By IANS
New Delhi : The government will introduce new legislation to amend the 1961 Maternity Benefit Act to increase the Rs.250 maternity bonus four times – in the first revision in over 40 years.
The union cabinet Thursday took the decision to introduce the new bill as several provisions in the existing legislation had become outdated, Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said here Thursday.
The existing ceiling of Rs.250 for maternity bonus under the act “is inadequate in the present economic scenario”. Therefore, the government plans to raise the amount to Rs.1,000 “so that it could be a source of financial support to working women as far as maternity benefits are concerned”.
Further, the new legislation will empower the central government to revise the medical bonus after every three years, with the maximum limit not being more than Rs.20,000, by issuing notification.