ENA MSME 2018-11-16 10:08:40 <p><strong>New Delhi, Nov 16 (KNN) </strong>Taking a remarkable step for the welfare of working women, the government has decided to give employers the salaries for seven of the 26 weeks of maternity leave for women earning more than Rs 15,000 a month.</p> <p>The announcement which covers the government as well as the private sectors was made by Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD).</p> <p>The decision comes in the wake of complaints by women that many companies were reluctant hire pregnant women after maternity leave was extended from 12 to 26 weeks and some were even firing women employees.</p> <p>Several industry bodies, particularly Federation of Indian Micro and Small &amp; Medium Enterprises (FISME), had urged the government to bear the additional cost after the 12th week of paid maternity leaves.</p> <p>Rajya Sabha had passed the maternity benefit Bill in August this year, which sought to increase the paid maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks.</p> <p>The MSME entrepreneurs and associations had raised concerns that the move will not only put excess financial burden on them but will also unwillingly reduce hiring of women in industries.</p> <p>According to Rakesh Srivastava, WCD Secretary, there were complaints from women that they were getting fired from their jobs due to the increased duration of maternity leave.</p> <p>Taking their complaints in consideration , he said The government has now decided that out of the 14 extra weeks, half of the amount of salary paid to the pregnant woman would be refunded to the employer from the funds of the labour welfare cess, he said.</p> <p>Commenting over this move, Srivastava said it has been decided to utilise the funds lying in the labour welfare cess to pay the employers.</p> <p>However, the utilisation of the labour welfare cess lying with the state governments has been very less.</p> <p>After talks with the Labour Ministry, It has been decided that the seven of the 26 weeks of maternity leave for all women employees in the private and government sector getting more than Rs 15,000 a month would be paid from that fund, she added.</p> <p>The labour welfare cess has been given to state governments to ensure the welfare of workers.</p> <p>Till March 2017, there was Rs 32,632 crore in the fund. Of this, just Rs 7,500 crore has been utilised, he said.</p> <p>We would be refunding the salary of seven weeks to the employer so women do not face problems upon returning to work, he said.</p> <p>The labour minister has agreed to the proposal and we are now carrying it forward. There will soon be a notification from the Labour Ministry with further details, he added.</p> <p>Commenting on the development, Dinesh Chandra Tripathi, President, FISME, said this is a welcome move but will not ease much the financial burden on MSMEs. Instead of 7 weeks the government should have borne the cost for three months. However, this would not have put much financial burden on the government, he added. <strong>(KNN Bureau)</strong></p> 21319 https://knnindia.co.in/news/newsdetails/msme/fisme-hails-govts-decision-to-pay-for-7-weeks-of-maternity-leave-but-says-it-should-have-been-for-3-months-atleast 2018-11-16 10:08:40 knnindia.co.in