THE MATERNITY BENEFIT ACT, 1961

An Act to regulate the employment of women in certain establishments for certain period before and after child-birth and to provide for maternity benefit and certain other benefits.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Twelfth Year of the Republic of India as follows. -

1. Short title, extent and commencement. –

(1) This Act may be called the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961.

(2) It extends to the whole of India 1[* * *]

(3) It shall come into force on such date 2 as may be notified in this behalf in the Official Gazette, -

3[(a) In relation to mines and to any other establishment wherein persons are employed for the exhibition of equestrian, acrobatic and other performances, by the Central Government; and]

(b) In relation to other establishments in a State, by the State Government.

1. The words “except the State of Jammu and Kashmir” omitted by Act 51 of 1970, sec.2 and Schedule (w.e.f. 1-9-1971).

2. Ist November 1963: vide Notification No.S.O. 2920, dated 5th October, 1963, Gazette of India, Pt.II, sec. 3, page 3735.

3. Subs. by Act 52 of 1973, sec.2 (w.e.f. 1-3-1975).

2. Application of Act. -

1[(1) It applies, in the first instance, -

(a) To every establishment being a factory, mine or plantation including any such establishment belonging to Government and to every establishment wherein persons are employed for the exhibition of equestrain, acrobatic and other performances;

(b) To every shop or establishment within the meaning of any law for the time being in force in relation to shops and establishments in a State, in which ten or more persons are employed, or were employed, on any day of the preceding twelve months:]

Provided that the State Government may, with the approval of the Central Government, after giving not less than two month's notice of its intention of so doing, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare that all or any of the provisions of this Act shall apply also to any other establishment or class of establishments, industrial, commercial, agricultural or otherwise.

(2) 2[Save as otherwise provided in 3[sections 5A and 5B] nothing contained in this Act] shall apply to any factory or other establishment to which the provisions of the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948 (34 of 1948), apply for the time being.

1. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988 sec.2 (w.e.f. 10- 1-1989).

2. Subs. by Act 21 of 1972, sec.2, for “Nothing contained in this Act”.

3. Subs. by Act 53 of 1976, sec.2 (w.e.f. 1-5-1976).

3. Definitions. -In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, -

(a) “Appropriate Government” means, in relation to an establishment being a mine 1[or an establishment wherein persons are employed for the exhibition of equestrian, acrobatic and other performances] the Central Government and in relation to any other establishment, the State Government;

(b) “Child” includes a still-born child;

(d) “Employer” means-

(i) In relation to an establishment which is under the control of the Government a person or authority appointed by the Government for the supervision and control of employees or where no person or authority is so appointed, the head of the department;

(ii) In relation to an establishment under any local authority, the person appointed by such authority for the supervision and control of employees or where no person is so appointed, the chief executive officer of the local authority;

(iii) In any other case, the person who, or the authority which, has the ultimate control over the affairs of the establishment and where the said affairs are entrusted to any other person whether called a manager, managing director, managing agent, or by any other name, such person;

1[(e) “Establishment” means-

(i) A factory;

(ii) A mine;

(iii) A plantation;

(iv) An establishment wherein persons are employed for the exhibition of equestrian, acrobatic and other performances; 2[* * *]

3[(iva) A shop or establishment; or]

(v) An establishment to which the provisions of this Act have been declared under sub-section (1) of section 2 to be applicable;]

(f) “Factory” means a factory as defined in clause (m) of section 2 of the Factories Act, 1948 (63 of 1948);

(g) “Inspector” means an Inspector appointed under section 14;

(h) “Maternity benefit' means the payment referred to in sub-section (1) of section 5;

4[(ha) “Medical termination of pregnancy” means the termination of pregnancy permissible under the provisions of Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971.];

(i) “Mine” means a mine as defined in clause (j) of section 2 of the Mines Act, 1952 (35 of 1952);

(j) “Miscarriage” means expulsion of the contents of a pregnant uterus at any period prior to or during the twenty-sixth week of pregnancy but does not include any miscarriage, the causing of which is punishable under the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860);

(k) “Plantation” means a plantation as defined in clause (f) of section 2 of the Plantations Labour Act, 1951 (69 of 1951);

(1) “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(m) “State Government, in relation to a Union territory, means the Administrator thereof;

(n) “Wages” means all remuneration paid or payable in cash to a woman, if the terms of the contract of employment, express or implied, were fulfilled and includes-

(1) Such cash allowances (including dearness allowance and house rent allowance) as a woman is for the time being entitled to,

(2) Incentive bonus, and

(3) The money value of the concessional supply of foodgrains and other articles, but does not include-

(i) Any bonus other than incentive bonus;

(ii) Over-time earnings and any deduction or payment made on account of fines;

(iii) Any contribution paid or payable by the employer to any pension fund or provident fund or for the benefit of the woman under any law for the time being in force; and

(iv) Any gratuity payable on the termination of service;

(o) “Woman” means a woman employed, whether directly or through any agency, for wages in any establishment.

1. Ins. by Act 52 of 1973, sec.4 (w.e.f 1-3-1975).

2. Word “or” omitted by Act 61 of 1988, sec.3 (w.e.f. 10-1-19891.

3. Ins. by Act 61 of 1988, sec.3 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).

4. Ins. by Act 29 of 1995, sec.2 (w.e.f 1-2-1996).

4. Employment of or work by, women prohibited during certain periods. -

(1) No employer shall knowingly employ a woman in any establishment during the six weeks immediately following the day of her delivery, 1[miscarriage or medical termination of pregnancy].

(2) No women shall work in any establishment during the six weeks immediately following the day of her delivery 2[miscarriage or medical termination of pregnancy].

(3) Without prejudice to the provisions of section 6, no pregnant women shall, on a request being made by her in this behalf, be required by her employer to do during the period specified in sub-section (4) any work which is of an arduous nature or which involves long hours of standing, or which in any way is likely to interfere with her pregnancy or the normal development of the foetus, or is likely to cause her miscarriage or otherwise to adversely affect her health.

(4) The period referred to in sub-section (3) shall be-

(a) The period of one month immediately preceding the period of six weeks, before the date of her expected delivery;

(b) Any period during the said period of six weeks for which the pregnant woman does not avail of leave of absence under section 6.

1. Subs. by Act 29 of 1995, sec.3 (a), for “or her miscarriage” (w.e.f 1-2-1996).

2. Subs. by Act 29 of 1995, sec.3 (b), for “or her miscarriages (w.e.f 1-2-1996).

5. Right to payment of maternity benefits. –

1[(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, every woman shall be entitled to, and her employer shall be liable for, the payment of maternity benefit at the rate of the average daily wage for the period of her actual absence, that is to say, the period immediately preceding the day of her delivery, the actual day of her delivery and any period immediately following that day.]

Explanation. -For the purpose of this sub-section, the average daily wage means the average of the woman's wages payable to her for the days on which she has worked during the period of three calendar months immediately preceding the date from which she absents herself on account of maternity, 1[the minimum rate of wage fixed or revised under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 (11 of 1948) or ten rupees, whichever is the highest].

(2) No woman shall be entitled to maternity benefit unless she has actually worked in an establishment of the employer from whom she claims maternity benefit, for a period of not less than 2[eighty days] in the twelve months immediately preceding the date of her expected delivery:

Provided that the qualifying period of 2[eighty days] aforesaid shall not apply to a woman who has immigrated into the State of Assam and was pregnant at the time of the immigration.

Explanation. -For the purpose of calculating under the sub-section the days on which a woman has actually worked in the establishment 3[the days for which she has been laid off or was on holidays declared under any law for the time being in force to be holidays with wages] during the period of twelve months immediately preceding the date of her expected delivery shall be taken into account.

3[(3) The maximum period for which any woman shall be entitled to maternity benefit shall be twelve weeks of which not more than six weeks shall precede the date of her expected delivery:]

Provided that where a woman dies during this period, the maternity benefit shall be payable only for the days up to and including the day of her death:

3[Provided further that where a woman, having been delivered of a child, dies during her delivery or during the period immediately following the date of her delivery for which she is entitled for the maternity benefit, leaving behind in either case the child, the employer shall be liable for the maternity benefit for that entire period but if the child also dies during the said period, then, for the days up to and including the date of the death of the child.]

1. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, sec.4 (w.e.f 10- 1 - 1 989).

2. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, sec.4, for “one hundred and sixty days” (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).

3. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, sec.4 (w.e. f 10- 1 - 1 989).

1[5A. Continuance of payment of maternity benefit in certain cases. -Every woman entitled to the payment of maternity benefit under this Act shall, notwithstanding the application of the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948 (34 of 1948), to the factory or other establishment in which she is employed, continue to be so entitled until she becomes qualified to claim maternity benefit under section 50 of that Act.]

1. Ins. by Act 21 of 1972, sec.3.

1[5B. Payment of maternity benefit in certain cases. -Every woman-

(a) Who is employed in a factory or other establishment to which the provisions of the Employees' State Insurance Act, 1948 (34 of 1948), apply;

(b) Whose wages (excluding remuneration for overtime work) for a month exceed the amount specified in sub-clause (b) of clause (9) of section 2 of that Act; and

Shall be entitled to the payment-6f maternity benefit under this Act.]

1. Ins. by Act 53 of 1976, sec.3 (w.e.f. 1-5-1976).

6. Notice of claim for maternity benefit and payment thereof. -

(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 nominat6 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.

1[(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.

1. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, sec.5 (w.e.f 10-1-1989).

7. Payment of maternity benefit in case of death of a woman. -If a woman entitled to maternity benefit or any other amount under this Act, dies before receiving such maternity benefit or amount, or where the employer is liable for maternity benefit under the second proviso to sub-section (3) of section 5, the employer shall pay such benefit or amount to the person nominated by the woman in the notice given under section 6 and in case there is no such nominee, to her legal representative.

8. Payment of medical bonus. -Every woman entitled to maternity benefit under this Act shall also be entitled to receive from her employer a medical bonus of 1[two hundred and fifty rupees], if no pre-natal confinement and post-natal care is provided for by the employer free of charge.

1. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988 sec.6, for “twenty five rupees” (w.e.f 10-1-1989).

1[9. Leave for miscarriage, etc.-In case of miscarriage or medical termination of pregnancy, a woman shall, on production of such proof as may be prescribed, be entitled to leave with wages at the rate of maternity benefit, for a period of six weeks immediately following the day of her miscarriage or, as the case may be, her medical termination of pregnancy].

1. Subs. by Act 29 of 1995, sec.4 (w.e.f 1-2-1996).

1[9A. Leave with wages for tubectomy operation. -In case of tubectomy operation, a woman shall, on production of such proof as may be prescribed, be entitled to leave with wages at the rate of maternity benefit for a period of two weeks immediately following the day of her tubectomy operation].

1. Ins. by Act 29 of 1995, sec.5 (w.e.f. 1-2-1996).

10. Leave for illness arising out of pregnancy, delivery, premature birth of child, 1[miscarriage, medical termination of pregnancy or tubectomy operation. -A woman suffering from illness arising out of pregnancy, delivery, premature birth of child 1[miscarriage, medical termination of pregnancy or tubectomy operation] shall, on production of such proof as may be prescribed, be entitled, in addition to the period of absence allowed to her under section 6, or, as the case may be, under section 9, to leave with wages at the rate of maternity benefit for a maximum period of one month.

1. Subs. by Act 29 of 1995, sec.6, for “or miscarriage” (w.e.f 1-2-1996).

11. Nursing breaks. -Every woman delivered of a child who returns to duty after such delivery shall, in addition to the interval for rest allowed to her, be allowed in the course of her daily work two breaks of the prescribed duration for nursing the child until the child attains the age of fifteen months.

12. Dismissal during absence of pregnancy. -

(1) When a woman absents herself from working accordance with the provision soft his Act, it shall be unlawful for her employer to discharge or dismiss her during or on account of such absence or to give notice of discharge or dismissal on such a day that the notice will expire during such absence, or to vary to her disadvantage any of the conditions of her service.

(2) (a) The discharge or dismissal of a woman at any time during her pregnancy, if the woman but for such discharge or dismissal would have been entitled to maternity benefit or medical bonus referred to in section 8, shall not have the effect of depriving her of the maternity benefit or medical bonus:

Provided that where the dismissal is for any prescribed gross misconduct, the employer may, by order in writing communicated to the woman, deprive her of the maternity benefit or medical bonus or both.

1[(b) Any woman deprived of maternity benefit or medical bonus, or both, or discharged or dismissed during or on account of her absence from work in accordance with the provisions of this Act, may, within sixty days from the date on which order of such deprivation or discharge or dismissal is communicated to her, appeal to such authority as may be prescribed, and the decision of that authority on such appeal, whether the woman should or should not be deprived of maternity benefit or medical bonus, or both, or discharged or dismissed shall be final.]

1. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, sec.7 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).

13. No deduction of wages in certain cases. -No deduction from the normal and usual daily wages of a woman entitled to maternity benefit under the provisions of this Act shall be made by reason only of-

(a) The nature of work assigned to her by virtue of the provisions contained in subsection (3) of section 4; or

(b) Breaks for nursing the child allowed to her under the provisions of section 11.

14. Appointment of Inspectors. -The appropriate Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint such officers as it thinks fit to be Inspectors for the purposes of this Act and may define the local limits of the jurisdiction within which they shall exercise their functions under this Act.

15. Powers and duties of Inspectors. -An Inspector may, subject to such restrictions or conditions as may be prescribed, exercise all or any of the following powers, namely: -

(a) Enter at all reasonable times with such assistants, if any, being persons in the service of the Government or any local or other public authority, as he thinks fit, any premises or place where woman are employed or work is given to them in an establishment, for the purposes of examining any registers, records and notices required to be kept or exhibited by or under this Act and require their production for inspection;

(b) Examine any person, whom he finds in any premises or place and who, he has reasonable cause to believe, is employed in the establishment:

Provided that no person shall be compelled under this section to answer any question or give any evidence tending to incriminate himself,

(c) Require the employer to give information regarding the names and addresses of women employed, payments made to them, and applications or notices received from them under this Act; and

(d) Take copies of any registers and records or notices or any portions thereof.

16. Inspectors to be public servants. -Every Inspector appointed under this Act shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).

17. Power of Inspector to direct payments to be made. -

1(1) Any woman claiming that-

(a) Maternity benefit or any other amount to which she is entitled under this Act and any person claiming that payment due under section 7 has been improperly withheld;

(b) Her employer has discharged or dismissed her during or on account of her absence from work in accordance with the provisions of this Act, may make a complaint to the Inspector.

(2) The Inspector may, of his own motion or on receipt of a complaint referred to in subsection (1), make an inquiry or cause an inquiry to be made and if satisfied that-

(a) Payment has been wrongfully withheld, may direct the payment to be made in accordance with his orders;

(b) She has been discharged or dismissed during or on account of her absence from work in accordance with the provisions of this Act, may pass such orders as are just and proper according to the circumstances of the case.]

(3) Any person aggrieved by the decision of the Inspector under sub-section (2) may, within thirty days from the date on which such decision is communicated to such person, appeal to the prescribed authority.

(4) The decision of the prescribed authority where an appeal has been preferred to it under sub-section (3) or of the Inspector where no such appeal has been preferred shall be final.

2[(5) Any amount payable under this section shall be recoverable by the Collector on a certificate issued for that amount by the Inspector as an arrear of land revenue.]

1. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, sec.8 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).

2. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, sec.8 (w.e.f. 10- I - 1 989).

18. Forfeiture of maternity benefit.-If a woman works in any establishment after she has been permitted by her employer to absent herself under the provisions of section 6 for any period during such authorized absence, she shall forfeit her claim to the maternity benefit for such period.

19. Abstract of Act and rules thereunder to be exhibited.-An abstract of the provisions of this Act and the rules made thereunder in the language or languages of the locality shall be exhibited in a conspicuous place by the employer in every part of the establishment in which women are employed.

20. Registers, etc.-Every employer shall prepare and maintain such registers, records and muster-rolls and in such manner as may be prescribed.

1[21. Penalty for contravention of Act by employer. –

(1) If any employer fails to pay any amount of maternity benefit to a woman entitled under this Act or discharges or dismisses such woman during or on account of her absence from work in accordance with the provisions of this Act, he shall be punishable with imprisonment which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to one year and with fine which shall not be less than two thousand rupees but which may extend to five thousand rupees:

Provided that the court may, for sufficient reasons to be recorded in writing, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a lesser term or fine only in lieu of imprisonment.

(2) If any employer contravenes the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder, he shall, if no other penalty is elsewhere provided by or under this Act for such contravention, be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both:

Provided that where the contravention is of any provision regarding maternity benefit or regarding payment of any other amount and such maternity benefit or amount has not already been recovered, the court shall, in addition, recover such maternity benefit or amount as if it were a fine and pay the same to the person entitled thereto.]

1. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, sec.9 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).

22. Penalty for obstructing Inspector.-Whoever fails to produce on demand by the Inspector any register or document in his custody kept in pursuance of this Act or the rules made thereunder or conceals or prevents any person from appearing before or being examined by an Inspector shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extent to 1[one year, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees], or with both.

1. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, sec.10 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).

1[23. Cognizance of offences. –

(1) Any aggrieved woman, an office-bearer of a trade union registered under the Trade Unions Act, 1926 (16 of 1926) of which such woman is a member or a voluntary organisation registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 (21 of 1860) or an Inspector, may file a complaint regarding the commission of an offence under this Act in any court of competent jurisdiction and no such complaint shall be filed after the expiry of one year from the date on which the offence is alleged to have been committed.

(2) No court inferior to that of a Metropolitan Magistrate or a Magistrate of the first class shall try any offence under this Act.]

1. Subs. by Act 61 of 1988, sec.11 (w.e.f. 10-1-1989).

24. Protection of action taken in good faith. -No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done in pursuance of this Act or of any rule or order made thereunder.

25. Power to central Government to give directions. -The Central Government may give such directions as it may deem necessary to a State Government regarding the carrying into execution of the provisions of this Act and the State Government shall comply with such directions.

26. Power to exempt establishments. -If the appropriate Government is satisfied that having regard to an establishment or a class of establishments providing for the grant of benefits which are not less favourable than those provided in this Act, it is necessary so to do, it may, by notification in the Official Gazette, exempt, subject to such conditions and restrictions, if any, as may be specified in the notification, the establishment or class of establishments from the operation of all or any of the provisions of this Act or of any rule made thereunder.

27. Effect of laws and agreements inconsistent with this Act. –

(1) The provisions of this Act shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law or in the ten-ns of any award, agreement or contract of service, whether made before or after the coming into force of this Act:

Provided that where under any such award, agreement, contract of service or otherwise, a woman is entitled to benefits in respect of any matter which are more favourable to her than those to which she would be entitled under this Act, the woman shall continue to be entitled to the more favourable benefits in respect of that matter, notwithstanding that she is entitled to receive benefits in respect of other matters under this Act.

(2) Nothing contained in this Act shall be construed to preclude a woman from entering into an agreement with her employer for granting her rights or privileges in respect of any matter, which are more favourable to her than those to which she would be entitled under this Act.

28. Power to make rules.

(1) The appropriate Government may, subject to the condition of previous publication and by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may provide for-

(a) The preparation and maintenance of registers, records and muster-rolls;

(b) The exercise of powers (including the inspection of establishments) and the performance of duties by Inspectors for the purposes of this Act;

(c) The method of payment of maternity benefit and other benefits under this Act in so far as provision has not been made therefore in this Act;

(d) The form of notices under section 6;

(e) The nature of proof required under the provisions of this Act;

(f) The duration of nursing-breaks referred to in section 11;

(g) Acts, which may constitute gross misconduct for purposes of section 12;

(h) The authority to which an appeal under clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 12 shall lie; the form and manner in which such appeal may be made and the procedure to be followed in disposal thereof,

(i) The authority to which an appeal shall lie against the decision of the Inspector under section 17; the form and manner in which such appeal may be made and the procedure to be followed in disposal thereof;

(j) The form and manner in which complaints may be made to Inspectors under subsection (1) of section 17 and the procedure to be followed by them when making inquiries or causing inquiries to be made under sub-section (2) of that section;

(k) Any other matter which is to be, or may be prescribed.

1[(3) Every rule made by the Central Government under this section shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made, before each House of Parliament while it is in session for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session 1[or in two or more successive sessions and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions, aforesaid] both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.]

1. Subs. by Act 52 of 1973, scc.5 (w.e.f. 1-3-1975).

29. Amendment of Act 69 of 1951. -In section 32 of the Plantations Labour Act, 1951, -

(a) In sub-section (1), the letter and brackets “(a)” before the words “in the case of sickness”, the word “and” after the words “sickness allowance” and clause (b) shall be omitted;

(b) In sub-section (2), the words “or maternity” shall be omitted.

30. Repeal. -On the application of this Act-

(i) To mines, the Mines Maternity Benefit Act, 1941 (19 of 194 1); and

(ii) To factories situate in the Union territory of Delhi the Bombay Maternity Benefit Act, 1929 (Bombay Act VII of 1929); as in force in that territory, shall stand repeated.