Encourage Work From Home For Nursing Mothers: Govt To States & UTs

New Delhi: The government has asked all state governments and UTs to encourage work-from-home for nursing mothers to protect them from COVID-19.

The relaxation will be made under the enabling provision for permitting work from home for nursing mothers under Section 5(5) of the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act, 2017. The Act provides that where the nature of work assigned to a woman is of such nature that she may work from home, the employer may allow her to do so after availing of the maternity benefit for such period and on such conditions as the employer and the woman may mutually agree.

The Ministry of Labour & Employment said the move was made keeping in view the vulnerability of nursing mothers and their babies during the Covid pandemic and to save them from getting infected by the coronavirus.

The State Governments and UTs have been requested that steps may be taken to create awareness about section 5(5) of the Act amongst the women workforce and the employers, the government said.

In addition to protecting the nursing mothers during COVID, giving the flexibility to work-from-home wherever nature of work allows them to do so, this step will enable nursing mothers to continue to remain in employment, the release said, adding that the implementation of this provision shall act as an enabling tool in enhancement of participation of women in labour force.