A STUDY ON MATERNITY BENEFIT AND ITS EFFECTIVENESS IN CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Around 10 crore women employees i.e. 90% of the women employees are employed in unorganized sector. Unorganized sector includes Agriculture, Seasonal workers, Domestic workers, Construction workers etc. Law Commission of India, in 2015 recommended that the provisions of Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 should cover women workers working in organized as well as unorganized sector, but the government is yet to think over extending the maternity benefit scheme to women in unorganized sector. Presently, the only benefit available to the workers in unorganized sector is Pradhan Mantri Matriva Vandhana Yojana (PMMVY) where they get Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) of Rs. 6000/- in two installments (Rs. 3000/ each) on fulfilling the conditions. When survey was conducted, it was proved that the reach of PMMVY is very poor, hardly anyone got the benefit. Through Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Act 2017, the labour ministry enhanced the benefit to employees, employed in certain establishments, this may benefit only 1.8 million women employees, but ministry disregards the women employees of unorganized sector. Is it not discrimination? Is it fair to leave this lot out from the ambit of the new law?”