IMPACT OF MATERNITY BENEFITS ON WOMEN WORKFORCE
AUTHOR – AVANTIKA S, STUDENT AT THE TAMIL NADU DR. AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY (SOEL)
BEST CITATION – AVANTIKA S, IMPACT OF MATERNITY BENEFITS ON WOMEN WORKFORCE, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (5) OF 2025, PG. 589-597, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344
Abstract
The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 is an Act to regulate the employment of women in certain establishments for certain periods before and after childbirth and to provide for maternity benefit and certain other benefits.[1] This Act aims to protect the health and employment of women during pregnancy and after childbirth. One such crucial step towards betterment of working pregnant women and new mothers was the 2017 amendment to the Maternity Benefits Act, 1961.Introduction of this Act aimed at strengthening and modernizing the existing law in response to changing societal and workforce dynamics. With more women joining formal employment and increasing awareness of maternal and child health, the original provisions were seen as insufficient. This paper analyses the impact of The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (Amendment in 2017) on the women workforce and points out the positive and negative outcomes of these legal benefits ensured to the working pregnant women and new mothers.
[1] Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, No. 53 of 1961, § Preamble, India Code (1961)