In A First, Kerala Private Education Sector Employees, Teachers To Get Maternity Benefits Like Government Servants 

Kerala is going to become the first state in the country to bring all the employees and teachers in the private education sector under the umbrella of the Maternity Benefit Act, making them eligible for availing all maternity benefits like government employees, reports The Indian Express.

The Central government has approved the state’s plea to issue the notification to provide the employees working in the private education institutions including the unaided sector with the benefits under the Act.

On 29 August, the state cabinet had decided to seek a go-ahead from the Centre on the matter, as per an official release.

With the nod from the Centre, the Kerala government will now draft the legislation which will make thousands of employees in the private sector eligible for all maternity benefits, including the 26 weeks of maternity leave with salary as guaranteed in the Act.

According to the release, the employers will also compulsorily have to help them for their medical expenses by paying Rs 1,000.

The release said, “It is for the first time that a state government in the country is bringing the private education sector under the ambit of the Maternity Benefit Act.”

It also informed that the state government had already been working to ensure minimum wages to teachers in the unaided sector.

The employees in the private education sector have demanded for maternity benefits for a very time in Kerala.