Paid maternity leave: FinMin raises questions over labour ministry's move

After complaints that the new law may impact employment of women, the govt has framed a scheme to provide monetary incentive to companies

The finance ministry has raised questions over the labour ministry’s move to seek Rs 4 billion annually towards providing subsidies to companies for passing on maternity benefits to workers.

“The finance ministry has asked the labour ministry about the need to frame such a scheme. The move to increase the maternity benefit leave was approved by the Parliament for welfare of women employees and its impact on the industry needs to be examined carefully,” said a senior government official, requesting anonymity.

The labour ministry has sent the contours of an incentive scheme for companies that provide 26 weeks’ maternity benefit to their