Centre asks states to allow nursing mothers to work from home

June 3: The Union Government has issued an advisory to all states and Union Territories to encourage employers to allow nursing mothers to work from home at least for a period of one year from the date of birth of the child in view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The labour ministry has written to states advising them to devise rules along with employers as exposing nursing mothers to the outside environment can infect them with coronavirus and bring problems for their toddlers.

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 Maternity Act provides for 26-week paid maternity leave.