Anonymous
I am working in a Pvt. Ltd. company in Kerala as an Assistant Customer Relations Manager in the Service Department, especially in the automobile industry. I joined here on 10-10-2011. My salary is Rs. 9500/-. The matter is that I am now eight months pregnant and my delivery is expected to happen in July 2013. This will be my second delivery. I am eligible for ESIC. I would like to know what benefits a pregnant woman gets from ESIC. How many days of leave are agreed upon for the delivery period? Will there be any obstacles to getting a promotion or increment during this period? Is there any chance to get paid leave from my company or can I request a nursing break? What are the formalities to get paid leave? Kindly inform me. I am waiting for your reply.
From India, Chennai

You will get 84 days of leave for delivery at normal salary from ESIC. You will get 30 more days of such leave if you have any illness arising out of confinement. You will get this benefit only if you have contributed for at least 70 days during the two benefit periods, i.e., from April 2012 to Sept 2012 and Oct 2012 to March 2013. There is no provision for a nursing break under the ESI Act.

Varghese Mathew

From India, Thiruvananthapuram

To answer the other questions you have:

The company is not obliged to give you paid leave. It may do so out of goodwill. You can always request the same. What do you mean by a nursing break? Are you asking for additional days of leave? Any such leave will be unpaid. The company will not be happy with you asking for additional days off.

As for increments and promotions, this is generally an internal matter for the company to decide. ESIC or any law cannot dictate it. If your work was good and the company wishes to retain you, they will probably give you an increment even if you were on maternity leave. However, generally, they would not be inclined to do so, and no law will force them to do it.

Hope this answers your question.

From India, Mumbai

The nursing breaks are two intervals of 15 minutes each, in addition to the normal lunch break allowed to a woman under the MB Act, to enable the woman to feed the child until the child attains the age of 15 months. Maternity leave will not affect the increments or promotions.

Varghese Mathew

From India, Thiruvananthapuram

Of course, nursing breaks specified in maternity act / factory act, as you have quoted here will apply when the baby is close by, possibly in the crèche. I suspect they don't have a crèche in the place where she is working (waiting for her to clarify of course)
While maternity act may specify that increment / promotion is not affected, in realty it does get affected. It being a discretionary matter, you can not take any action on the company for that.

From India, Mumbai

Nowhere in the Factories Act is nursing break mentioned. What Saswata said about increment/promotion is correct. We are living in a country where people are losing their jobs after maternity leave. That is the extent of our rule of law.

Varghese Mathew

From India, Thiruvananthapuram

Mathew,

Factory rules in Maharashtra provide for 2 breaks during the day for mothers to feed their babies. I think other states also have a similar provision in their rules. I can locate them if you wish.


From India, Mumbai

Dear Sir,

I am inquiring about the possibility of having a break time to feed my baby. I have noticed that in other companies, working mothers are allowed to work only 6 hours per day. After taking ESIC leave, they re-joined and their working hours were reduced to 6 hours.

Thank you for considering my request.

Sincerely, [Your Name]

From India, Chennai

Dear Sheeba,

You are eligible for 84 days of maternity leave according to the ESI Act. This does not hinder your chances of receiving an increment. Paid leave cannot be granted. You are entitled to only one benefit at a time. A nursing break can be requested if there is no creche available.

Regards,
V. Subbarao

From India, Madras

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