Provide 26 weeks' paid maternity leave to registered road construction workers: Govt to employers in advisory

Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said on Tuesday that the government has asked employers to provide registered road construction workers with paid maternity leave for up to two deliveries for 26 weeks. She added that employers must provide 12 weeks of paid maternity leave to mothers who have more than two children or who are adopting or commissioning.

The minister made the announcement while releasing an advisory on women's participation in the workforce. The Labour Ministry and the Women and Child Development Ministry issued a joint advisory on the matter.

"The advisory that I hold in my hands for female construction workers across the country mandates them to be given 26 weeks of maternity leave by their employers. Now, this is nothing less than revolutionary. Not just putting ink to paper, but ensuring officers actively consider the availability of such facilities to women," she was quoted by PTI as saying.

In addition to childbirth, the advisory addresses miscarriages, stating that if a woman in the construction industry suffers a miscarriage, she is entitled to six weeks of leave with wages equivalent to maternity benefits. 

"As per the advisory, the wage of women construction workers has to be transferred through an online medium to avoid them getting duped by their supervisors," Irani said.

The advisory also emphasised the proactive role of employers in implementing policies and programmes to encourage women to join the workforce.

"Now that the advisory is given, it becomes easy for the officers and the ministry to compute the impact of such advisories to the female construction workforce across the country," Irani said.

Furthermore, the advisory emphasises employers' proactive role in implementing policies and programmes to encourage women to enter the workforce, she explained.

The advisory emphasises the importance of employers providing a safe and supportive environment for female workers during night shifts, as well as transport services for pick-up and drop-off, particularly during nighttime hours.

(With Agency Inputs)