The Government of Chandigarh, Labour Department has in a notification dated 14th February, 2019 rolled out the Draft Chandigarh Maternity (Amendment) Rules, 2019(“Draft Rules”) which proposes to bring in provisions with respect to Crèche facilities by amending the Chandigarh Maternity Benefit Rules, 1975 (“Principal Rules”). A new rule, 7A is being proposed to be inserted in the Draft Rules, which will deal with Crèche facility. This amendment is being proposed in line with the amendments made to the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 (“Act”) in the year 2017.
The Draft Rules will be taken into consideration by the Chandigarh Government after 3 months.
Key Highlights of the Draft Rules:
- Every establishment having fifty or more employees will now compulsorily have to have the facility of Crèche within such distance as may be prescribed, either separately or along with common facilities. The employer will also have to allow four visits a day to the Crèche by the woman employee, which will include her period of rest and interval.
- Every establishment will have to ensure that they have intimated in writing and electronically to every woman at the time of her initial appointment regarding every benefit available under the Act.
[Please note that the Chandigarh Maternity Benefit Rules, 1975 (Principal Rules) is not available in the public domain and we are also initiating a Right to Information application for obtaining the same.]
Source: Labour Department, Chandigarh
