SOCIAL SECURITY AND

LABOUR WELFARE
The maternity benefits act, 1961
INTRODUCTION
• The maternity benefit act,1961 was passed to regulate the
employment of women for certain periods before and after child-birth
and to provide for maternity benefit and certain other benefits.
• Main object of this act is to reduce the difference existing in the
Central Acts related to maternity provisions.
• This constitutes as valid ground for special legislation for working
women.
EXTENT AND APPLICATION OF THE
ACT
The Act extends to whole of India and it shall come in to force on such date as
may be notified in this behalf in official gazette by Appropriate Government
(Sec.162).
• As person (section 2) the Act applies:
1. To every establishment which is a factory, mine or plantation
2. To every shop within the meaning of any law, in which ten or more persons
are employed on any day of the preceding twelve months.
3. “Section 26” empowers the appropriate government to exempt any
establishment from the operation of all or any of the provisions of the Act.
4. This exemption can be granted only by the notification in the official Gazette.