Bill to increase maternity leave period & gratuity limit tabled in Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI: The government on Monday introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha that will allow it to notify a higher period of maternity leave and raise gratuity limit for employees.

The gratuity limit for private sector is expected to be raised to Rs 20 lakh in line with that in the government sector.

Labour minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar introduced the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in the House.

The Payment of Gratuity Act 1972 was enacted to provide for gratuity payment to employees engaged in factories, mines, oilfields, plantations, ports, railway companies, shops or other establishments. It is applicable to employees who have completed at least five years of continuous service in an establishment that has 10 or more persons.

According to the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the bill, the amendment would allow the central government to notify the maternity leave period for "female employees as deemed to be in continuous service in place of existing twelve weeks”.

The proposal comes against the backdrop of the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017 enhancing the maximum maternity leave period to 26 weeks.

“It is therefore proposed to empower the central government to enhance the period of existing twelve weeks to such period as may be notified by it,” the statement said.

With respect to gratuity, the amount is calculated on the basis of a formula which is 15 days of wages for each year of completed services, subject to the ceiling of `10 lakh. This limit was fixed in 2010.

After implementation of the 7th Central Pay Commission, the ceiling of gratuity amount for central government employees has been increased from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 20 lakh and is applicable since January 1. Generally, the ceiling under the Act follows that of the Pay Commission recommendations.

“Therefore, considering the inflation and wage increase even in case of employees engaged in private and public sector, the entitlement of gratuity is also required to be revised for employees who are covered under the Act," the statement said.